Total job postings in the apartment labor market reached 45,953 by the end of the first quarter of 2025, marking a 6.3% decrease compared to the previous year, according to the Apartment Labor Dynamics report from the National Apartment Association (NAA).
“Among various job categories, corporate roles were the only ones to see an increase in postings year-over-year. On the other hand, roles related to maintenance, property management and leasing experienced a year-over-year decline,” the report says.
What is causing this trend in the apartment labor market?
- Broader economic trends and a shift in industry demands
- Corporate roles expanding for administrative and strategic operations to navigate market challenges
- Decline in maintenance, property management and leasing roles could be attributed to centralization and changing job functions.
Salary Trends in the apartment labor market
Despite a significant decrease in year-over-year job postings in the first quarter of 2025, advertised salaries rose nationally across major job categories.
The exception was the salary category for property managers, where median salary growth remained stable. Maintenance technicians saw a 2.2% salary increase, leasing professionals saw a 3.9% increase and maintenance supervisors experienced a 3.2% increase.
The advertised salary growth for property managers remained stable nationally. However, salaries declined sharply in Atlanta (-12.8%), New York (-5%) and Los Angeles (-1.3%), while they grew in Washington, D.C. (+0.2%) and Seattle (3.3%). This reduction in salaries in certain metro areas was driven by year-over-year declines in job postings across all major categories, indicating less competition for talent among employers.
Leasing professionals saw the highest year-over-year growth in advertised salary, both nationally and in metro areas. Los Angeles (+6%), Washington, D.C. (+10.2%) and New York (+14%) surpassed the national median annual growth.
Employer Activity
There was a 10.6% year-over-year drop in the number of employers actively recruiting.
Top Markets and Skills
The metro regions of Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and Washington, D.C. posted the highest demand for apartment jobs in the first quarter.
Key skills in demand included customer service, property management, initiative and leadership, and effective communication. The skills reflect the industry’s ongoing focus on resident engagement, leadership skills, management and communication proficiency.
In the first quarter of 2025, the most desired skills in the multifamily housing sector were property management and communication. Property management joined the top three skills from the previous quarter, which include customer service, initiative and leadership, and communication. While employers are increasingly valuing individuals with a customer-focused mindset and abilities that improve the resident experience, expertise in property management is becoming an essential skill.
