Temporary & Contract Recruitment: What Candidates Need to Know About the Market Right Now
Alice Murray
Temporary and contract work has moved from being a fallback option to a genuine career choice for many property professionals. Here is what our 2026 Real Estate Salary Guide & Trends Report, combined with insight from our Workforce Sentiment Survey, tells us about where things stand.
1. Senior expertise is increasingly being secured on an interim basis
Across Real Estate Management and Operations, senior expertise is now often secured through interim and contract models. Employers prefer to bring in six figure senior capability on a flexible, project based arrangement to manage cost risk, which means real opportunity at the top end of the market for those willing to work this way.
2. Contract earnings are genuinely comparable
Candidates often welcome the variety and comparable earnings available through contract structures. If you have assumed temporary work means taking a financial step backwards, that is no longer a safe assumption at senior level.
3. Construction is leaning heavily on contract engagement
Uncertainty around approvals and programme start dates has driven a move away from permanent hiring towards temporary and contract engagement, particularly across fit out and finishing roles. If you have relevant experience, this is where a significant share of construction hiring is currently happening.
4. Flexibility is a real advantage in a cautious market
Some candidates have had to pivot into adjacent sectors or alternative project types to maintain momentum through slower periods. Contract work makes that kind of pivot far easier, and gives you exposure across multiple businesses and asset classes in a relatively short space of time.
5. Compliance and building safety expertise is in acute demand
The talent pool for building safety and compliance expertise remains extremely limited following the Building Safety Act 2022, with consultancy firms emerging to fill critical capability gaps. If you hold IOSH or NEBOSH certifications, contract and consultancy routes are among the most lucrative options open to you right now.
6. Variety and autonomy matter more than they used to
Our Workforce Sentiment Survey found that while 41% of professionals rank salary as their top priority, this is closely followed by work life balance, flexibility, culture and career development. Autonomy and trust ranked among the top drivers when people consider a new employer. For many, contract work delivers exactly that combination of flexibility, variety and control that permanent roles struggle to match.
7. Growth in contract and consultancy work is expected to continue
Looking ahead, continued growth in contract and consultancy work at senior levels is forecast, alongside further outsourcing of transactional finance roles. The direction of travel is towards more flexible engagement, not less.
If you have been treating temporary work as a stopgap, it is worth reconsidering. In several parts of the property market, it is now where the most interesting and best paid work sits.
About the Author
Alice Murray | Business Manager | New Homes Contract
Alice our temp and contract specialist, has been with deverellsmith for almost 4 years and continues to obsess over finding quick solutions for our partnered clients in New Homes Sales, Customer Service and Concierge. As Business Manager for the team, she enjoys using her creative background (once a professional actress and singer) to build genuine and lasting relationships with her candidates and clients alike.
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
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