?? Gough Recruitment Market Update 2025

We’re bringing you the latest insights into the job market, industry trends, and hiring outlook across Real Estate, Property, Development, and Construction.?

?? Job Market Overview?

The Australian job market saw moderate declines in 2024, with job ad volumes falling 3.0% in December—marking the third consecutive month of decline and a 12.2% YoY drop. However, despite this trend, the market remains balanced, with many opportunities still available.?

?? Key takeaways:?

?? High competition – Applications per job ad remain strong, highlighting a competitive market.?

?? Queensland is holding steady, with job ads down just 4.7% YoY, compared to WA (-18.5%) and ACT (-16.4%).?

?? Property & Facilities Managers remain in demand, with strong hiring activity continuing into 2025.?

?? Construction & Development remains the toughest space, with job ads falling -9% YoY, as rising construction costs and funding issues continue to challenge developers.?

?? Housing shortages in WA are making it difficult to attract talent to relocate.?

?? All states recorded a YoY decline in labour demand, with Victoria seeing the largest drop at -16%.?

?? Salary & Inflation Trends?

?? Annual salary growth increased slightly in December to 3.6% YoY, the lowest level since August 2021.?

?? While advertised salaries were ~1% lower in 2024 than in 2023, inflation is expected to have fallen by over 1.5 percentage points, meaning real wages are stabilising.?

?? What this means: With a more balanced wage-to-inflation ratio, employees can expect better purchasing power in 2025.?

?? Industry Insights – What We're Seeing?

?? Real Estate & Property?

• Demand for Property Managers and Facilities Managers remains high, particularly in residential and commercial sectors.?

• Clients are becoming more selective, particularly around candidate salary expectations and tenure on CVs, slowing down hiring processes.?

• WFH is phasing out, with a return to office five days a week becoming more common in new hiring briefs.?

• Candidates are starting to recognise client pushback on salary expectations but, with employment levels still low, many are holding firm.?

• Senior and mid-tier leaders (earning $320K+ TPV) are more available in the market, providing new opportunities for employers seeking experienced leadership.?

?? Development & Construction?

• Hiring in development remains stable, with demand for Development Managers, Construction Planners, and Urban Planners.?

• Construction remains a challenge, with rising costs and funding issues making many projects financially unviable.?

• Sustainability-focused roles—including Green Building Consultants and Environmental Engineers—are gaining traction as regulations tighten.?

?? Gough News – We’ve Expanded to Adelaide! ???

We’re excited to announce the opening of our new Adelaide office, strengthening our presence in South Australia! ???

With the Adelaide market growing, we are committed to connecting top talent with the best opportunities in Real Estate, Property, Development, and Construction. Our dedicated team is here to support both candidates and clients in navigating this dynamic industry.?

?? Meet our Adelaide consultants, who bring industry expertise and a passion for recruitment to the South Australian market:?

?? What’s Next for 2025??

As hiring activity rebounds in January, now is the perfect time to secure top talent or make your next career move. If you're hiring or looking for new opportunities, Gough Recruitment is here to help!?

?? Get in touch with our team today.?

?? Follow us for more market insights and job updates!?

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