"The property market doesn’t react instantly, and today’s hires are about being ready for tomorrow’s demand"
- Colby Short - GetAgent
The property sector has added more than 5,000 employees over the past year, contrasting with job reductions across much of the UK economy, according to new research from GetAgent.co.uk. The figures highlight the sector’s long-term confidence, despite broader economic pressures.
GetAgent analysed the latest Office for National Statistics data on payrolled employees across major UK industries. Between August 2024 and August 2025, the real estate workforce grew by 5,904, rising from 465,415 to 471,319 staff, an increase of 1.3%.
This growth places property among the top-performing sectors nationally. By comparison, industries including manufacturing, construction, retail, and accommodation and food services all reported year-on-year declines in staff numbers. Across the UK as a whole, payrolled employees fell by 0.4%, meaning real estate was one of the few sectors to move against the trend.
Only energy production and supply (3.6%), water supply, sewerage and waste (2.9%), and health and social work (1.6%) recorded stronger employment growth over the same period.
The resilience of the property sector is particularly notable given ongoing affordability challenges, higher borrowing costs, and cautious buyer demand. Despite these headwinds, transaction levels are rising, and firms across the industry, from estate agents to property managers, continue to invest in staff. These points not only point to resilience but also to long-term confidence, as businesses prepare to capitalise on future growth.
“While we’re seeing more tech and AI tools enter the property space, the reality is that this is still a people-first sector and the addition of more than 5,000 employees over the past year shows that businesses are investing in staff to strengthen capability, build resilience and prepare for the future," said Colby Short, co-founder and CEO of GetAgent.
“The property market doesn’t react instantly, and today’s hires are about being ready for tomorrow’s demand. With transactions already up 15% year-on-year and on track to return to pre-Covid averages, firms know that having the right people in place is vital to capture business and drive performance when activity peaks."
“It’s a positive sign for the sector that, despite wider economic uncertainty, employers remain committed to growing their teams and that’s a strong indicator of confidence in the housing market’s long-term health.”
