Just like contractors and design firms, professional service firms are worrying about finding qualified people to do the work. At the same time, a talent shortage may be driving some owners to resort to hiring outside CM firms to manage their projects rather than joining the search for people in a diminishing pool.

"With all of the players across the continuum from subcontractors to owners fighting for a limited pool of talent, owners are becoming more and more likely to bring on third-party consultants to help set up and manage large, complex projects," says Heald of Cumming. He says some owners are reluctant to build up internal teams due to memories of downsizing from the last recession.

CM firms are worried about their own potential staff shortages. "Finding good people is our top priority," says Richter. He says Hill vigorously recruits new graduates at top colleges around the country. "We have 4,800 employees and will probably exceed 5,000 by the end of the year."

D'Agostino says CMAA is working hard with colleges to develop academic CM programs. "But the real impact is when you reach down to the high schools to get students interested in construction as a career."

D'Agostino says the way to reach students is to emphasize concepts they can relate to. "When you start talking about drones, geospatial analysis, laser scanning and building information modeling in construction, young people sit up and take notice. The begin to realize that construction is more than digging ditches."