Q4 2025 Insights
The employment situation in the Real Estate industry presents a complex picture of a relatively stable workforce facing significant current market challenges and a resulting shift in worker sentiment and survival strategies.
Latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and related sources indicate the Real Estate sector had a workforce population of around 2.6 million people in 2023, showing employment growth in the preceding year. The median annual wage for Real Estate Brokers in May 2024 was about $72,280, while Real Estate Sales Agents earned a median annual wage of approximately $56,320. It is important to note that a significant portion of both brokers and sales agents, around 54% in 2024, are self-employed, meaning their income is heavily commission-dependent, lacks traditional benefits, and can be volatile. Overall, the workforce is projected to grow about 3 percent from 2024 to 2034, which is considered about as fast as the average for all occupations. While this indicates long-term stability in the number of roles, it does not fully reflect the current, immediate struggles of commission-based workers due to market contraction. The latest general labor market data from the BLS, such as the August 2025 employment situation, pointed to little change in non-farm payroll employment across major industries, including financial activities, suggesting a leveling off or slowing of job growth, which aligns with cautious economic forecasts.
Recent sentiments from real estate workers on socials over the last 45 days highlight a widespread sense of difficulty and market stagnation, largely driven by high interest rates that have created a "stuck" housing market. Workers, particularly sales agents and realtors, describe a classic standoff where buyers are unwilling to pay high prices with high rates, and sellers are reluctant to give up on peak 2021/2022 valuations, leading to homes sitting longer and fewer transactions overall.
Many agents report they are not doing well, noting that the market has become the most challenging in years. This contraction is forcing real estate professionals to re-evaluate their careers. A key survival trend is a pivot to securing a steady salary and benefits. There is recurring discussion of agents, including those who previously left six-figure corporate jobs for real estate, now exploring new jobs or industries that offer predictable pay, paid time off (PTO), and benefits, acknowledging the immense financial and emotional toll of the commission-only structure. For those committed to staying, the trend is a return to "old-school" and strenuous methods like cold-calling to generate leads, as easy money from past boom cycles is completely gone. There is also a strong sentiment that the industry, particularly the brokerage model, is in a state of transition and potential decline, with technology like AI posing a threat to less skilled agents. Successful agents are surviving by diversifying their real estate activities (e.g. commercial leasing, property management) or working on highly organized, high-volume teams that can afford sophisticated marketing and offer better support, while many less-experienced agents are expected to exit the profession entirely.