At least 54% of the current global workforce will need upskilling within the next three years if companies are to remain relevant and effective, delegates heard at MIPIM Proptech New York, held in partnership with MetaProp.
Lisa Picard, chief executive of real state investment company EQ Office, said in her opening keynote speech that upskilling existing staff would be a major hurdle for companies to overcome, not least because it is hard for people to “relearn”.
She said: “It is very hard to unlearn something that has brought success in the past. When people have made a lot of money via they way they have always done things, it’s really hard to instigate change without fear or threat fuelling that change.”
She added that the real estate sector is being forced to evolve as the impact of technology is both an opportunity and an example of a change-inducing threat. But she is quick to point out that this change has been a long time coming.
“I have been saying that change needs to happen for so long but what tends to happen is that you have people like me saying change is coming and 30% of people hear that message and say ‘this is exactly what we have been waiting to hear’ but the other 70% say ‘she’s crazy’ but I think the shift is happening now.”
In terms of the need to upskill for a changing, tech-advanced sector, Picard said that new required skills don’t necessarily need an intrinsic technological component but are more related to the creative side of work.
She said that complex problem solving, critical thinking and relationship fostering are likely to become among the most valuable attributes future employees in real estate can bring, replacing skills such as logging and reporting, predictable analysis and quality control.
To send feedback, e-mail emily.wright@egi.co.uk or tweet @EmilyW_9 or @estatesgazette
