For years, the phrases “skilled trades” and “manual labor” have been synonymous with one another, making electricians, plumbers, carpenters, and HVAC technicians professions one would not associate with advanced technology or artificial intelligence (AI). However, this perception is evolving as more trade workers experience the tangible benefits of advanced technology.
An August 2025 survey from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) found that 35% of trade workers anticipate that increased technology deployment will be their organizations’ biggest focus in 2026. While it’s become a widespread fear that AI will “replace white-collar jobs,” the skilled trades industry is inherently different. An AI agent can’t rewire a commercial building, safely install a high-voltage electrical system, or install plumbing behind a wall.
As a result, the success of facilities managers (FMs) will be defined in 2026 by their ability to work collaboratively with AI and strike the right balance between human expertise and intelligent tools. AI will mostly shoulder the FM’s mundane, administrative tasks, giving them more time to focus on upskilling, training, and their physical craft.
The Modern Trade Worker’s Views on AI
An overwhelming number of trade workers are optimistic about AI’s impact across industries. NFPA’s survey also revealed 95% of trade workers believe AI has a purpose in at least some day-to-day job functions in the skilled trades. Whether that be organizing jobsite data or automating documentation requests, AI is helping streamline mundane tasks, creating more time for FMs to collaborate effectively, focus on high-priority projects, and reduce costly errors.
Workers’ optimism around AI’s role in their daily operations comes from its ability to serve as a support system rather than a replacement. FMs generate the most meaningful results when they can focus on tasks that truly matter rather than being bogged down by administrative necessities. As AI tools become increasingly integrated within FMs’ daily responsibilities, they need to be viewed as an aid rather than a replacement.
Intersection of AI & Training Within the Trades
Training across trade industries has long been considered a manual process: in-person courses, pen-and-paper exams, and print-out certification documents. While traditional in-person training remains valuable for workers who prefer structured, classroom-style learning, digital tools provide time-crunched workers with a more dynamic approach to upskilling opportunities.
Most of NFPA’s survey respondents said their biggest 2026 priority was increased training for a more skilled workforce, with more than half of respondents planning to take part in more training opportunities this year. AI and technology-driven tools can propel impactful learning at the individual level, helping workers take training into their own hands and upskill faster than ever before. With online learning libraries and smarter research aids that work directly with employee schedules, FMs will lead a quicker, more agile workforce in 2026, and also have time to enhance their own repository of skills.
Saving Time When It Matters the Most
Facilities managers are often slammed with time-sensitive requests. Between juggling project deadlines and ensuring safety compliance, time is a precious resource, and AI is the nimble tool that can meet the needs of their dynamic, on-the-go jobs. With AI, FMs have real-time access to the latest safety codes, standards, and other relevant resources—all from the convenience of their own pockets.
Picture this: A facilities manager on the jobsite needs to confirm whether an installation meets the latest fire protection codes. In the past, this required making multiple calls back to the office and combing through heaps of files to find the right information. Now, AI-powered tools resolve this task in a matter of seconds. FMs can use AI tools to instantly search for the latest standards to find precise, up-to-date information, allowing them to make informed, safe decisions on the spot.
AI Reduces Administrative Workload for Facilities Managers
Not only does AI help trade workers increase day-to-day efficiency, but we’re also already seeing its effects on back-office tasks. The time-intensive burden of administrative items, including HR, payroll, and even hiring responsibilities, has decreased due to AI-powered automation.
While these efforts are commonplace, their lasting impact helps paint a bigger picture; leveraging AI allows FMs to be more intentional with their time and focus on higher-priority initiatives. In 2026, the key for facilities managers lies in their ability to recognize the time-saving advantages that come with AI.
Human Expertise Isn’t Going Anywhere
The benefits that technology and AI pose to FMs are immense, but there’s one thing that will remain constant: human touch will never go out of style. AI can’t touch the physical acts of skilled labor, but what it can do is alleviate the time-intensive burden of administrative items for FMs.
As AI continues to evolve, so does the role of these skilled workers. Insight, decision-making, and experience will remain core functions and benchmarks for successful FMs, but intelligent tools drastically improve their ability to make informed and strategic decisions in a fraction of the time.
In 2026, the most successful FMs will be those who embrace AI not as a replacement, but to elevate their impact and lead more intelligent and nimble teams.
Jon Hart is the technical lead of fire protection engineering at the National Fire Protection Association.