Real estate jobs back in hot demand

Job website Seek says there's been a big jump in the number of jobs going in the real estate sector. Photo / NZ Herald

A booming New Zealand property market is driving a surge in real estate jobs and applications for licensed accreditation, latest figures show.

More than 1500 positions have been advertised this year so far - an increase of more than 29 per cent on last year's total, according to job listing site Seek.

Increased market activity and property sales volumes in 2013 were once again driving people to consider real estate careers, said managing director of Bayley's Real Estate, Mike Bayley.

"We are tracking strong demand and job growth out of the Auckland and Christchurch real estate markets in both the residential, commercial and industrial sectors, and are now also seeing increasing signs of positivity in provincial cities," said Bayley.

The upswing in real estate jobs is particularly evident in Auckland and Canterbury, where property roles on Seek have increased by more than 44 per cent.

The number of licensed real estate agents is also increasing, with 1677 new applications approved so far this year.

According to the Real Estate Agent's Authority, there are now 16,003 real estate agents around the country, the bulk (7,077) in Auckland.

"The shortage of dwellings and the increase in population is driving house prices upwards and the result is a greater activity in the Auckland market," said managing director of Barfoot & Thompson, Peter Thompson.

"We are noticing an increase in migration, including a rise in New Zealanders returning from overseas (particularly from across the Tasman), and those moving to Auckland from other parts of the country for job opportunities," Thompson said.

But the job growth is not limited to the residential property market.

An upswing in the commercial sector is also contributing to job creation, with Commercial Sales, Leasing and Property Management roles increasing by 15 per cent over the past year.

"A career in real estate sales, property services and management is once again proving an attractive employment opportunity and is certainly a trend we foresee continuing throughout 2014," said Bayley.