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!
Los Alamitos Race Course is facing its most serious crisis in years after 18 horses died in 2025, prompting regulators to warn the track that its racing license is at risk without immediate safety reforms. Following three catastrophic injuries in a single day, the California Horse Racing Board has ordered urgent changes—including more veterinarians, stricter medication rules, and enhanced on‑track medical support—as pressure mounts for stronger oversight in a sport already under national scrutiny.
Canadian investors have poured more than US$5.8 billion into U.S. commercial real estate this year, making the U.S. their top destination even amid a lingering tariff dispute. Tight inventory in Canada and greater deal availability south of the border are driving the trend, with data centers and industrial properties emerging as the hottest targets for 2025.
Florida’s insurance commissioner says even industry pros struggle to read today’s 150‑page homeowners policies—leaving residents shocked when hurricane claims are denied. With rising premiums, high replacement costs, and widespread confusion over exclusions like flood and water damage, the state is pushing for simpler, clearer policy language so homeowners know what they’re actually covered for before the next storm hits.
Following the 2025 elections, major metros like New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, and Boston are implementing policy shifts that could reshape property values, rental income, development timelines, and investment strategy heading into 2026. From New York’s push toward aggressive rent reform to Chicago’s sustainability mandates and Miami’s uncertain mayoral runoff, these changes signal a new era where local politics increasingly dictate market performance. This breakdown highlights the biggest post‑election real estate pivots and what they mean for investors, agents, and finance professionals preparing for a rapidly evolving landscape.
Florida’s Insurance Commissioner is sounding the alarm after thousands of homeowners discovered—only after hurricanes Helene and Milton—that the coverage they thought they had didn’t exist. With nearly 150,000 unpaid claims tied to misunderstood flood exclusions, water‑damage caps, and buried policy clauses, state leaders are pushing to simplify the dense, confusing documents most Floridians never read. As insurance costs remain one of the state’s top concerns, this growing complexity is creating a massive opportunity for real estate, mortgage, and insurance professionals to guide consumers before disaster strikes.
Florida’s insurance market is reliving an old crisis under a new name. Despite reforms meant to stabilize the system, homeowners are being forced out of Citizens and into pricier policies from small insurers with shaky financial histories. Companies tied to past insolvencies are returning with fresh branding, while highly rated carriers continue to deny a majority of claims. With political influence muddying regulation and climate risks rising, experts warn that only a full structural overhaul—not cosmetic reforms—can restore confidence for homeowners, agents, and the entire real estate market.
