Facility leaders are facing a perfect storm: historic labor shortages, federal policy disruption, and rapid shifts in workplace technology. As demands rise and resources tighten, the workforce model behind your facility services matters more than ever. ABM’s self-performing workforce offers more than labor coverage, it delivers resilience through direct oversight, compliance accountability, and operational agility.

Labor volatility demands a smarter model

The numbers are clear:

• By 2026, 40% of current facility managers are expected to retire, widening an already critical talent gap.¹
• Three in five U.S. workers express concern over the impact of workplace investigations, while only 26% feel confident their employer will handle immigration and compliance issues transparently.²
• Skilled trades shortages are deepening, just as facility complexity and client expectations continue to rise.

Layered on top of these pressures is an increased adoption of AI, IoT, and smart systems, innovations that demand a stable, trained, and tech-ready workforce.

The traditional subcontractor model

Traditional facility management often relies on outsourcing—where providers handle some services directly and subcontract the rest. While this may seem efficient on the surface, it can lead to higher costs, fragmented service delivery, and inconsistent standards across your facility. When multiple vendors operate under a single provider’s name, the result is often a patchwork of different work cultures and priorities that may not align with your goals. This disconnect can hinder teamwork and dilute the occupant experience.

That said, subcontractors still play a strategic role in facility operations—particularly when specialized expertise or rapid scaling is needed. The key is balance. At ABM, we self-perform where it drives the most value and use trusted partners only when it enhances outcomes. Even then, subcontractors operate under ABM’s standards, ensuring consistent quality, full accountability, and a seamless experience across your facility.

Want to explore this topic further? Read, "One service provider, multiple facility benefits."

Self-performing teams: Greater control, greater confidence

ABM’s workforce is our workforce. That distinction gives our clients:

• Direct oversight of compliance and performance
• Faster response times to operational needs
• Service consistency across locations
• Scalable labor aligned to real-time facility demands

This approach ensures service standards aren’t just promised, they’re lived out by teams who are trained, equipped, and supported by ABM from day one.

Workforce innovation = operational resilience

A self-performing model also enables faster adoption of smart tech and real-time analytics. With direct team oversight, ABM can embed mobile task apps, IoT sensors, and predictive service analytics across your facilities—accelerating performance and reducing risk. ABM Connect, a data intelligence platform, integrates seamlessly with self-performing operations, giving clients data-backed insight into workforce activity and facility outcomes.

A better workforce management strategy

With ABM, you gain a workforce that is trained, accountable, and fully aligned with your goals—backed by the systems and support to keep your facility running smoothly, no matter the external environment. Through ABM Performance Solutions, ABM's IFS solution, we deliver the benefits of a self-performing model with centralized oversight, proactive management, and outcome-driven service. It’s a smarter, more unified way to manage your facility—one team, one standard, and performance you can count on.

Next up

As immigration orders and federal regulations evolve, compliance becomes even more critical. See how our proactive approach reduces your exposure.

Let's talk

Want to ensure your workforce strategy covers every angle? Let's discuss how ABM’s self-performing teams can help you meet your goals.

‍

‍¹ https://8650014.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8650014/eBook-Navigating%20Retiring%20Workers%20and%20Labor%20Shortages-ARC%20Facilities-1.pdf

² https://facilityexecutive.com/federal-policy-shifts-disrupt-daily-work-for-half-of-u-s-workers/

‍