‘Education, education, education’. It was almost 30 years ago that the then British prime minister uttered those infamous three words and pledged to create a ‘learning society’.
So, to borrow a phrase, albeit an adaptation, this month it’s ‘skills, skills, skills’ at RICS.
Last week, we published the results of our first ever global skills survey and the results seem to confirm what many of us had heard anecdotally.
The core skills that surveyors need to stay relevant are rapidly changing
Almost two-thirds of respondents placed literacy in advanced digital tools such as AI and machine-based learning as the one of the top emerging skills they think will be most important for the profession in the next five to 10 years. This sentiment was most expressed by those working in management consultancy and infrastructure.
But some of those surveyed feel that the pace of technological advancement is outrunning the development of training available. Which highlights just how important it is for industry, membership bodies and the technology sector to share expertise, to enable built and natural environment professionals to keep pace.
Age is advancing but starting salaries are stagnating
More than 50% of respondents cite an ageing workforce, high retirement rates and a lack of new talent as the key driver behind the skills shortage. If you’re reading this, it is unlikely to shock you to find out that the average age of RICS members is about 50 years old.
While I am in no position to criticise the increasing age of our profession and believe that mentoring between the generations is invaluable, it is an inescapable fact that the number of people joining the profession is not keeping pace with those leaving.
But a career in surveying is enriching, varied and fulfilling, so why aren’t more people choosing to pursue it? Some responses point to lower starting salaries compared to other similar professions. Which is an important consideration when choosing a career, especially for young people living in a time when there continues to be a rising cost of living.
“A career in surveying is enriching, varied and fulfilling, so why aren’t more people choosing to pursue it?” Nick Maclean FRICS, Acting President of RICS
It’s a heavyweight challenge, but we’re up for the fight
Despite the somewhat mixed picture painted by these results, I am reassured by the high level of consensus and by members’ characteristic eagerness to contribute to addressing the issues.
Now, it is incumbent upon us to harness the power of this consensus and convene governments, employers, universities and industry bodies to do more to enhance and broaden the appeal of surveying.
But to reach new audiences, we need new tactics. We have a mature early engagement strategy of visiting schools, colleges and accrediting university courses. But we are all living longer, and it is common practice now to have multiple careers during our lifetime.
I recently met a graduate surveyor at the Valuation Office Agency, who was previously cabin crew for a major airline. I was inspired by the way she viewed her previous career experience, and the skills she’d gained there – customer service, risk management, working under pressure – as assets to the surveying profession. Which indeed they are.
So, what’s next? Progress on this scale takes time, and this is just the beginning. These answers give us a direction of travel, but we will continue to listen keenly to those at the sharp end of the skills crisis. And together we will find a way to tell the RICS story in a way that compels people to listen.
AI and data skills for the modern surveyor
RLB and Gleeds have created data academies for their employees
