Real estate is adopting AI just as a large share of its experienced workforce approaches retirement — creating a risk that companies lose institutional knowledge while the jobs used to train the next generation are also changing.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

AI is moving into real-estate research, analysis, property operations and other routine work.

PwC says job transformation is currently more common than outright employee replacement, although some entry-level work is already exposed to automation.

At the same time, Deloitte estimates that nearly 40% of the U.S. real-estate workforce will reach retirement age within a decade. Among industry leaders, the figure is 59%.

WHY IT MATTERS

Real estate must transfer knowledge from experienced workers while AI changes how younger employees learn the business.

The World Economic Forum estimates that 39% of workers’ existing skills will change or become outdated by 2030, with AI, big data and technological literacy among the fastest-growing skills.

The risk is straightforward:

AI may automate some of the routine work that traditionally helped younger employees become experienced professionals.

WHO BENEFITS

Companies that combine institutional knowledge with AI capability can improve productivity without losing experience.

Experienced professionals who can apply their judgment through new AI tools may become more valuable.

WHO LOSES

Companies that fail to capture knowledge before experienced workers retire may lose expertise that technology cannot easily replace.

Entry-level workers could lose some of the tasks that traditionally served as training grounds for more advanced roles.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

Real-estate companies will need stronger mentoring, succession planning and AI training.

The central challenge is no longer simply replacing retiring workers.

It is making sure the next generation still has a path to becoming experts.