Surveying skills report 2025: an exploration of skills shortages in the surveying profession
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17 October 2025
The surveying skills gap is a real and urgent problem, according to hundreds of RICS surveyors around the world. Contributing factors include an ageing profession, a shortage of new entrants, and rising demands as challenges such as decarbonisation and housing continue to grow.
More than a quarter of surveyors believe that the shortage is already critical, and impacting cost, capacity and innovation within the profession. The solution, as identified by both RICS members and experts, is greater collaboration across industry, academia, education and policymakers.
Based on a survey of our global membership, the RICS Surveying skills report is the first of its kind, providing an in-depth exploration of skills shortages in surveying. It uncovers the reality of the skills gap right now and, in an industry that is ever evolving and working at pace to meet demanding targets in housing and decarbonisation, identifies the developing needs of future surveyors. The findings are clear: current initiatives on skills, though valuable, are not working fast enough.
“This research marks the beginning of a new conversation with RICS members and our wider community. I am struck by how consistent the results are, highlighting the extent of our opportunity to impact on the delivery of critical projects and the themes identified by current professionals regarding the way forward.”
Nicholas Maclean OBE RD FRICS
Acting RICS President
Confirmation of the challenges now and to come
- 87% of survey respondents confirmed that the skills gap was having an impact on the profession. 27% believe that impact to be critical and severely impacting their work.
- 59% of those surveyed stress that the profession must prioritise the development of strong skills in advanced digital tools including in AI in readiness for the future. Sustainability and decarbonisation (41%), as well as data analytics and big data management (40%) were identified as the next biggest priorities.
- 51% of respondents believe business skills could be strengthened in new entrants to the profession, making this the area with most scope for impactful improvement among new surveyors.
“The data points to a real appetite for upskilling and self-development among current surveyors, a testament to the ongoing pursuit of excellence among our members, and their drive to use their skills and expertise with impact.”
Justin Young
RICS CEO
A turning point
Surveyors have a critical role to play in addressing global challenges in the built environment, from decarbonisation to the provision of housing, meaning the repercussion of this skills shortage are wide-reaching and significant. We must act to upskill today’s surveyors, and to welcome a great number of future surveyors from across all backgrounds.
Our work on skills must generate faster results. RICS is taking on a driving role to galvanise impactful and accelerated collaboration between our membership, our industry, employers and professional bodies, academia and government. Our next step is to collectively plot a data-led and unified road map.
Help shape our skills programme
RICS is now gathering further insight at a local level, to understand unique challenges as they relate to geographical regions and practice areas. RICS members are invited to share their experiences and insights in the coming months at our Shaping the Future tour.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about our Shaping the Future Roadshow 2025, please contact us at GEMS@rics.org
Outside of the UK, roundtable events being arranged by local market teams to discuss skills at a regional level. We encourage all members across the world to share their experiences.