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Aussies appear to be considering a move into real estate in record numbers.
According to analysis from BizCover, an online insurance service for small businesses, the number one most searched-for job across the nation over the past 12 months was real estate agent, with a total of 37,300 searches made across the year.
Officially, the phrase searched for was “how to become a real estate agent”, and it significantly beat out the professions next in line, which were psychologist, with 21,500 searches, pilot at 20,990, and paramedic at 18,900.
While not a job as such, justice of the peace was also queried in record numbers, with 25,500 Aussies wondering how to take up the voluntary role.
“How to become a real estate agent” was also the most searched career in every state and territory.
BizCover speculated that there could be a few factors driving this trend, including “a busy housing market that promises job security and room for growth for aspiring agents”.
The firm noted that a perception of real estate as an industry with a potential for high earnings yet a lower level of education required for entry likely helped spark curiosity among the public.
But the firm highlighted that career-related search traffic isn’t just motivated by the desire to bring home a big paycheck.
“Australians’ dream jobs are quite altruistic, with paramedic, police officer, firefighter, nurse, social worker and teacher all making the top 15. An interest in these kinds of roles shows that the dream job for many Aussies is one that focuses on helping others,” the firm stated.
The curiosity in real estate as a profession is an interesting counterpoint to the other job list that real estate often unfortunately tops: ethics – or a lack thereof.
The Governance Institute of Australia releases an annual list of the nation’s perceptions of the “least ethical professions”, which listed real estate first in the most recent edition of 2023. Traditionally, property industry professionals jostle for the top three places, along with politicians and lawyers.
But with the property market continuing to hold strength and Australians evidently considering a career move, could the perception of agents be changing?
According to the Governance Institute, one of the reasons that Australians question the ethics of real estate professionals is due to a lack of transparency over how much they are paid and what the job entails to justify the paycheck.
Perhaps the search interest is simply driven by a similar lack of clarity or curiosity about the job. It’s a truth universally held that Australians love to talk about property – but perhaps they’re equally as fascinated with the professionals who sell it.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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