Between the impacts of tariffs, return-to-office mandates, aging infrastructure, and an understaffed workforce, there is undoubtedly much on the minds of facilities managers right now.
But which aspects of the job take up the most mental space? A new “Voice of the Facility Manager” report from MRI Software surveyed FMs to gauge top trends and challenges. While much of the report reaffirms familiar industry truths—workloads and responsibilities are high, but so is job satisfaction and career longevity—the 2025 edition reveals aspects that complicate the job and, sometimes, prospects for success.
Budgets Are up, but So Are Operational Costs
According to the report, budget constraints were the top challenge for FMs overall, though many FMs came at the challenge from different perspectives: 62% reported an increase in their operating budgets over the past three years, while 18% reported a decrease.
These findings may seem contradictory, but the reality is more nuanced. Jill Judge, global facilities and workplace experience director at MRI Software, explained during a panel discussion launching the report that increased budgets for facilities management are often a response to rising operational costs, like electricity and water, or even perks to encourage employees to return to the office.
The costs of items and repairs have also been higher than they were historically, said Judge. Although contractors are optimistic that their margins will improve despite current and looming tariffs, according to Associated Builders and Contractors, prices for many commodities have increased, such as natural gas by 48.9% compared to 12 months ago, which will be passed on to end users like facilities.
Tighter Budget Oversight
Even as the facilities management budget is inflated to contend with rising related costs, there has been intensified scrutiny from finance and leadership teams over how the budget is spent, said Geoff Boss, director of property management at Carnegie Management and Development Corp., during the panel discussion. This oversight makes FM roles more challenging, Boss said, with the added pressure to be meticulous in how FMs budget and ensure compliance.
Inherently, facilities management budgets are more visible to leadership since FMs “don’t make money, we only spend money,” said Judge.
Future Sustainability Goals Are Shallow-Minded
Looking ahead, sustainability is an area of focus that many FMs expect the industry to move towards over the next five years. The MRI report found that over a third (37%) expect sustainability to become a key aspect of the industry, yet only 12% foresee a deeper integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.
According to the report, this outlook suggests that the industry’s sustainability goals are more driven by cost control and efficiencies, rather than value-driven interests in the environment.
Integrating ESG goals in FM is also made all the more difficult without uniform data standards in the industry, the report states. Therefore, “creating a sustainable workplace” ranks seventh out of the top 10 challenges for FMs.
FMs Continue to Walk a Tightrope
As the MRI report makes clear, today’s facilities managers are walking a tightrope—balancing rising costs, tighter oversight, and the ever-present call for sustainability, all while keeping the lights on, sometimes literally. It’s a role that demands adaptability, resilience, and a keen eye for both the big picture and the most minor details. While budgets may rise and fall and sustainability goals may still be finding their footing, one thing is for sure: Facilities managers remain the steady hands guiding organizations through change, challenge, and opportunity.
Ali Hickerson is a freelance journalist, content writer, and strategist based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Outside of Facilities Management Advisor, Ali’s recent bylines on health and workplace issues have crisscrossed the country and helped advocate for programs and policies that work to create a healthier, more humane, and equitable world.