As businesses do their best to bounce back from the challenges of the past 18 months, the property industry, like many other industries is struggling with a candidate-short market, causing some roles to be in particularly high demand.

So, if you're thinking about a job change in any of these areas, you will be in the 'power seat' when it comes to opportunities in the second half of 2021.

1. Commercial Property Managers
   Commercial property managers are some of the busiest people in the property industry right now and job seekers with commercial property management experience are in high demand.
   
   The increased workload is in large part due to COVID-19. Commercial property managers are dealing with the renegotiation of leases, struggling businesses, growing businesses and helping landlords and tenants with ever-changing COVID management plans and increased compliance. There is also a good level of investor activity and interest in the Adelaide commercial and industrial market at the moment. Employers are willing to sweeten the deal to attract quality candidates in this space.
2. Residential Property Managers
   The residential real estate sector continues to experience a lingering shortage of quality residential property managers, leaving many agencies stretching resources to manage their rent rolls. This consistent shortage has created excellent opportunities for savvy job seekers looking for the best roles. We’ve noticed an improvement in the offering employers are willing to make to entice candidates including increased salaries and improved benefits and working arrangements.
   
   One reason for the shortage is the disparity between training and experience, which remains a headache for the industry as many employers lack the resources to train up inexperienced staff. This means they look to hire someone with a minimum of 1-2 years’ experience. The flow-on is a cork in the career pipeline for some job seekers who complete their training and then have trouble progressing into jobs.
   
   In years past, property managers salaries have been relatively low compared to roles with similar levels of responsibility. However, salaries in the property management industry have improved greatly over the last 5 years or so and any lingering perception about lower pay levels may be another reason for the candidate shortage.
3. Retail Property Managers
   The retail sector was one of the hardest hit since the COVID pandemic and this caused an increase in the management required of tenants on behalf of landlords. There are lots of COVID compliance requirements to manage due to the nature of retail often being an essential service and in a public space. In addition to this, there is a relatively small number of retail property managers in SA, so there isn’t a huge pool of experienced candidates to draw upon.
4. Lease Administrators
   Lease administrators who can manage the administrative process of putting together commercial and retail leases are hard to find in the Adelaide market. A major contributor to this low supply is the lack of companies who have property departments in Adelaide, as most commonly they are based in the eastern states.
   
   Locally, lease administration is most likely to be handled by a commercial or retail property manager and often they will be aided by a administrative staff or a property assistant.
   
   We are more likely to be able to recruit commercial property management assistants with some leasing experience in their skill set. These factors make pure lease administrators hard to find locally and in turn causes people with these skills to be in high demand.
5. Residential Sales Administrators
   The boom in residential sales in SA is unlike anything we have seen before! Many sales departments had scaled back and automated or outsourced sales administration duties in the last 3-5 years, but the sheer volume of residential enquiries and sales since earlier this year means that sales departments have boomed, and they need more support.
   
   These five roles have been in particularly high demand so far this year, meaning job seekers are in a commanding position to pick and choose the best jobs opportunities and negotiate favourable terms. There has never been a better time for job seekers to find their ideal role.