Field workforce exodus threatens global infrastructure

Many industries continue to navigate the complexities of hybrid work and shifting workforce dynamics driven by necessary digital transformations. However, there is one critical issue quietly challenging and reshaping the field services industry in particular. Field service professionals serve as the unsung heroes of modern IT infrastructure. They keep the lights on, the networks connected and the systems running. But behind the scenes, a demographic shift threatens to disrupt these operations.

Veteran technicians, who have spent their careers mastering the nuances of complex systems, are exiting the workforce in large numbers, and there is no clear plan for passing on their knowledge. To make matters worse, younger generations are not joining the industry at the rate needed to replace retiring workers. What’s left is a widening skills gap that threatens to slow operations, increase costs and compromise service quality.

The Retirement Wave Is Real — and Risky