Investment: What Candidates Need to Know About the Market Right Now
Hannah Taylor
Investment hiring has started to recover after a quieter couple of years, but confidence is still cautious rather than full blown. Here is what our 2026 Real Estate Salary Guide & Trends Report, combined with insight from our Workforce Sentiment Survey, tells us about the state of the market and what it means for your next move.
1. Hiring is picking up, but mostly through replacement
Most recruitment in investment right now is replacing people rather than growing headcount, as businesses prioritise maintaining capability while managing cost and risk. It is a market that rewards patience and strong positioning rather than opportunistic moves.
2. Asset and portfolio management skills are in the strongest demand
With transactional activity still muted, firms are focused on maximising the performance of existing portfolios. If your experience covers asset value enhancement, operational performance or long term investment strategy, you are in a strong position right now.
3. Hybrid skill sets are becoming the differentiator
Employers increasingly want professionals who can operate across both investment and asset management functions. Building capability on both sides, rather than staying narrowly specialised, is one of the clearest ways to stand out as teams get leaner.
4. Salary growth is modest, but bonus upside is coming back
Salary levels across investment have remained largely stable, with cash flow discipline still influencing hiring decisions. The bigger opportunity over the next 12 months is expected to come through bonuses as market activity increases, rather than base salary rises.
5. If your role has drifted from investment into asset management, you are not alone
A number of professionals hired into investment focused roles have found their day to day shifting more heavily towards asset management as deal activity slowed. If that sounds familiar and it no longer matches what you signed up for, it is a legitimate reason to start exploring what else is out there.
6. Culture and alignment now outweigh salary as the main driver
Our Workforce Sentiment Survey found that while 41% of professionals still rank salary as their top priority, this is closely followed by work life balance, flexibility, culture and career development. In investment specifically, professionals are increasingly motivated by company culture, work life balance and alignment with organisational values rather than salary alone. Firms with available capital, active pipelines and clear growth strategies are the ones winning talent, because candidates want to see genuine momentum before they commit.
If you are considering your next step in investment, look beyond the headline salary. Pipeline strength, cultural fit and the breadth of your skill set will matter just as much over the next year.
About the Author
Hannah Taylor | Manager, Investment & Living
Hannah has 10 or more years of experience in the real estate industry and heads up the Rental Living team. She specialises in placing senior level Investment and Asset Management positions across the living space. Understanding her companies' specific requirements and desires is Hannah's sweet spot.
While London remains significant, regional markets including Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, and Bristol are growing rapidly. Sectors like Build to Rent, student housing, and logistics have driven increased recruitment activity across the UK, creating more opportunities outside the capital than ever before.
Most specialist property recruiters offer contingency recruitment (payment on successful hire), retained search (exclusive partnership for senior roles), and bespoke project solutions for large-scale or complex hiring needs. The right model depends on seniority, urgency, and the specific challenges of each role.
Many people hold outdated perceptions of the sector, associating it primarily with on-site manual work. In reality, construction and development offer strategic careers in investment, development management, planning, and sustainability. Greater visibility through industry advocacy, school engagement, and senior leadership voices is needed to change this perception.
The industry needs visible senior leaders who will advocate for careers in the built environment. This means speaking at schools and universities, sharing career stories publicly, and demonstrating the strategic, impactful nature of roles in construction and development. Better storytelling and earlier engagement with young people are essential.
Key growth sectors outside London include Build to Rent and rental living, purpose-built student accommodation, logistics and industrial property, residential development, and regional commercial real estate. Investment in regional cities has increased significantly, creating demand for skilled professionals across these areas
Sign up to devcast...
Whether you’re looking to get hired, or looking to hire then we’ve got
you covered. Never miss an episode.