Building for the Future: Socio-economic diversity and inclusion in UK Real Estate

JLL UK Foundation commissioned the Bridge Group to conduct a study on social mobility in the real estate sector. The study analysed over 10,000 employees across thirteen of the UK’s most significant real estate companies, explored how diverse the firms are by socio-economic background (SEB), the factors contributing to the different levels of diversity, and the actions that can be taken to advance SEB diversity in real estate. 

The report outlines ten recommendations to improve socio-economic diversity and inclusion in UK real estate. It emphasizes the business case for a more diverse workforce and suggests the sector has the potential to lead in this area due to its practical nature and varied entry routes.

Key findings include:

1. Real estate faces a significant lack of socio-economic diversity, especially in senior positions.
2. The sector lags behind law and financial services in improving socio-economic diversity since 2020.
3. Only 22% of employees come from lower socio-economic backgrounds (SEBs), compared to 39% in the UK workforce.
4. 51% of senior roles are held by white males from higher SEBs, while only 14% are from lower SEBs.
5. Investment management is less diverse than real estate agency.
6. Progress in the sector remains fragmented and slow compared to peer industries.

Link to report

Link to launch video