Real estate consultant vacancies in UK on course for record year, CBRE and JLL busiest recruiters — new report

May 10, 2022 | News, Real Estate

  • Jobs at real estate consultants hit record 1,500 vacancies in Q1 2022
  • Recruitment levels in 2022 on course to finish 8% up year-on-year
  • Vacancies for surveyors stall as hiring for project managers accelerates
  • Second-placed JLL keeps pace with CBRE, recruitment at Gleeds surges

Real estate consultants are publishing record numbers of jobs in the UK as dealmaking in commercial real estate rises to all-time highs and experts predict further industry growth, new research shows. 

According to a new report by recruitment industry data analysts Vacancysoft, there were over 1,860 vacancies published between January and April 2022 — 28% more than across the same period a year earlier. 

In 2021, hiring levels enjoyed a record year, growing by 179% year-on-year, with May’s 605 vacancies the highest monthly total ever. This year, although vacancies dipped in April, they are set to grow another 8% in relation to 2021.

Vacancysoft CEO James Chaplin said:

“The record deal volumes in Britain’s property market over the last two quarters show how well the real estate sector has rebounded since the pandemic lockdown was fully phased out.

“We expect hiring for real estate consultants to pick up in parallel to the high investment entering the sector and continue growing over the rest of 2022. However, to what degree is uncertain as we’re yet to properly feel the effects of high inflation and the potential onset of a recession.

 “The record deal volumes in Britain’s property market over the last two quarters show how well the real estate sector has rebounded since the pandemic lockdown was fully phased out. We expect hiring for real estate consultants to pick up in parallel to the high investment entering the sector and continue growing over the rest of 2022. 

“Despite a potential recession due to high inflation, premium real estate remains a strong asset class — especially as the government looks to deregulate financial services post-Brexit to accelerate growth and attract more foreign direct investment.”

 

Hiring for project managers accelerates as vacancies for surveyors stall

Project management is the fastest-growing sub-specialism within consulting vacancies, with these roles on track to be up 88% on last year — increased the function’s share of overall hiring from 15.1% in 2021 to 21.2% in early 2022. 

In contrast, there has been next to no increase in 2022 when it comes to vacancies for surveyors. Last year, there were over 350 jobs for these specialists, puting the function in second behind facilities for most vacancies in 2021. In the first months of 2022, volumes are up by only 1%.

Second-placed JLL keeps pace with CBRE, recruitment at Gleeds surges

CBRE leads in 2022 for the most number of new vacancies for real estate consultants, although the pace of its hiring is currently slower compared to 2021. Last year, the firm published over 1,000 vacancies across Britain. In the first four months of the year, with 254 new jobs, growth at the firm is at -28%.

Top 5 real estate consultancies for vacancies, GB, 2021-2022* (see report for top 20)

# Company 2021 2022 2022 growth
1 CBRE 1060 254 -28%
2 JLL 467 251 61%
3 Savills 544 214 18%
4 Gleeds 97 91 181%
5 Knight Frank 188 91 45%

 

In second is JLL with 251 vacancies, representing a rise of 61% if job volumes maintain their trajectory over the rest of the year. The biggest increase in vacancies was at Gleeds, where volumes are up 181% so far in 2022.

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