Entry-Level CRE Job Openings Drop, Setting Up Talent Squeeze
The commercial real estate (CRE) sector is facing a significant challenge as entry-level job openings continue to decline. Over the past two years, there has been a marked decrease in opportunities for young professionals seeking to enter the industry. This trend poses a substantial barrier for those aiming to gain the skills and experience necessary for advancement.
According to data from real estate job site SelectLeaders, listings for positions requiring zero to four years of experience have dropped by 26% year-over-year as of May. This follows a 35% decline between May 2022 and 2023. Such reductions are exacerbated by a weak commercial real estate market, where entry-level roles are often the first to be outsourced to artificial intelligence or overseas workers.
Andy Hunt, director of the real estate program at Marquette University, likens the situation to a “glass-half-empty version of the Goldilocks story,” where prolonged uncertainty stifles decision-making, impacting entry-level hiring more than other areas.
Many firms have been more conservative when hiring for CRE roles, due to an industry slowdown.
The impact of this decline is uneven across the industry. While some sectors and regions, such as asset management in Florida or Texas, continue to offer opportunities, others, particularly transaction or financing roles in the Midwest, are experiencing hiring freezes. BGO Chief Economist Ryan Severino notes that several large CRE organizations have halted hiring altogether.
Collete English Dixon, executive director of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Chicago’s Roosevelt University, emphasizes the importance of finding niches where students can excel, despite the broader hiring challenges.
Technology, especially AI, looms large over the hiring landscape. As AI’s capabilities expand, tasks traditionally handled by entry-level workers may increasingly fall to automation. English Dixon warns of the need to balance teaching fundamentals with preparing students for an AI-driven future.
Hiring trends have placed Gen Z applicants for CRE roles in a tough position.
The current hiring environment is particularly challenging for recent college graduates. At the University of Central Florida, only half of the 100 real estate graduates have secured positions through internships, while another 25 have job offers through other means. At Marquette University, about 60% of the recent class of 40 real estate students have jobs lined up, with many still searching.
RCLCO Management Consulting Practice Managing Director Ellen Klasson highlights the potential long-term impact of starting a career in a challenging environment, noting that the conditions at the beginning of one’s career can influence the entire trajectory.
For more insights on this topic, you can read the full article on Bisnow.
More Articles
Getting licensed or staying ahead in your career can be a journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, take a moment to relax, and browse through our articles. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your expertise, we’ve got tips, insights, and advice to keep you moving forward. Here’s to your success—one sip and one step at a time!
The greenhouse industry is entering 2026 with a complex wave of overlapping risks — from rising insurance costs and extreme weather to cyber threats, labor shortages, and unstable supply chains. These challenges aren’t isolated; they compound one another, increasing pressure on growers and business owners alike. Insights from industry experts reveal the key trends shaping risk management in the year ahead and what operators must do now to stay resilient.
New FDIC reporting rules are changing how banks classify and disclose commercial real estate loans, replacing the old Troubled Debt Restructuring label with clearer “financial difficulty” modifications and expanding transparency across structured products and capital requirements. These updates may briefly tighten lending but ultimately promise stronger liquidity, cleaner risk data, and more predictable CRE financing as banks adapt.
Artificial intelligence is no longer an upcoming trend—it's already reshaping how real estate professionals work, compete, and win. With the AI real estate sector set to surge from $222B in 2024 to nearly $1T by 2029, the industry is undergoing a rapid transformation in valuations, virtual tours, listings, investment analysis, and client management. Agents and investors who embrace AI tools are gaining unprecedented efficiency and insight, while those who resist risk falling behind.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is weighing the idea of 50‑year mortgages, a move that could make monthly payments more affordable but dramatically increase total interest costs. Supporters say it may help young professionals break into the housing market, while critics warn it could trap families in half a century of debt. As the industry debates this controversial loan option, real estate and mortgage professionals must stay informed to guide clients through the shifting landscape.
December is shaping up to be another unpredictable month for mortgage rates. With the Federal Reserve signaling mixed messages, key economic reports running behind schedule, and lenders already looking ahead to 2026, rates could face upward pressure. Experts from Fannie Mae and the MBA project an average 30‑year rate around 6.3% for late 2025, suggesting a potential December bump. For real estate and mortgage professionals, understanding this volatility isn’t just helpful — it’s a competitive edge.
Sellers are cutting prices at record levels, delistings are surging to highs not seen since 2017, and buyers remain hesitant despite slightly lower mortgage rates. With affordability still strained and new construction slowing, the 2025 housing market is entering a deeper‑than‑usual winter slowdown marked by caution on all sides.
