Employees within the property sector in Australia are in high demand amid growing levels of activity, a new report has found.

In its July to September report, recruitment outfit Hays says vacancies within the employment market for property are growing.

“Rising business and consumer sentiment is leading to increasing vacancy activity across Australia’s property market,” Hays said. “All states have major infrastructure projects in the pipeline, although varying local economic conditions will impact the opportunities available this quarter.”

According to Hays, demand for skilled professionals in both acquisition and delivery roles across New South Wales is strong amid high levels of activity from both domestic and overseas developers – particularly in high-density residential and hotels concentrated around the CBD, North Share and South Sydney.

That same overseas investment is increasing demand for candidates with luxury apartment and hotel development experience in Victoria as well – particularly in the Melbourne CBD.

Sales staff in Victoria are also being sought due to the ongoing popularity of apartments in the south-eastern growth corridor amid strong volumes of new homes and off the plan sales. Meanwhile, ongoing infrastructure investment will lead to demand for candidates within government agencies and project management consultancies.

Demand is also strong in the Australian Capital Territory, where developers continue to shape the metropolitan landscape with high-rise apartments and mixed-use commercial property and the residential market remains buoyant in Canberra’s inner North and established suburbs.

Another emerging area is Tasmania, where all-time high levels of commercial construction will drive demand for commercial property managers, asset management professions and property conveyancers.

Finally, greater levels of foreign investment and a surge in medium to high density residential development in Adelaide are driving continued upward demand in South Australia and reasonable levels of staffing demand across residential and commercial work.

Nevertheless, demand is not uniform across all states.

In Western Australia, for example, Hays says tenant vacancies across the commercial and residential sectors are dropping as the market is battling oversupply and decreasing population growth.

In Queensland, meanwhile, some developers are downsizing whilst others are recruiting to take advantage of changing conditions as activity shifts away from apartment buildings and toward low and medium density housing.

The report comes as confidence within the property sector throughout Australia remains buoyant notwithstanding growing questions about oversupply in some markets.

Participants in the latest Property Council of Australia-ANZ Property Industry Confidence Survey expressed a generally optimistic outlook in respect of forward work schedules, employment and capital growth across several sectors.

Roles in Demand

According to Hays:

• Residential property managers, commercial property managers, strata managers, client-side project managers and development managers are all in high demand thanks to a buoyant high-rise apartment market in many locations and mixed-use commercial property investment. The demand for strong property managers is exacerbated by the increase in large apartment sites filling their body corporate and on-site manager roles with these professionals.
• Commercial leasing consultants are also needed. Employers want well networked and experienced candidates with strong negotiation skills who can attract high quality tenants.
• Candidates with strong sales experience continue to be sought for new apartment, home and off-the-plan sales. Those with experience in luxury apartments and hotel developments are also needed.