An Analysis of Sustainability in Real Estate in Job Advertisements and Personal Profiles in Switzerland

Abstract

Organizations in and associated with the real estate sector rely on a competent workforce capable of effectively managing sustainability practices. This study examined the alignment of sustainability-related qualifications between employers and individuals in the Swiss real estate-related job market. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 600 job advertisements and 1520 personal profiles, employing a keyword-based search approach derived from sustainability definitions and contexts. The findings revealed that companies emphasized the importance of “sustainability” in their job advertisements, whereas employees rarely mentioned it in their profiles. Nevertheless, both employers and workers demonstrate a demand for expertise, competencies, and skills that contribute to fostering sustainability in the real estate domain. Noteworthy keywords encompassed digitalization, green buildings, economic thinking, creativity, and collaboration. To facilitate improved job matching between organizations and applicants and to ensure sustainable practices in the real estate sector, it is recommended that organizations integrate these suggested keywords in their job advertisements and that employees incorporate the corresponding keywords into their profiles. Furthermore, educational institutions can enhance their programs by incorporating these keywords and the proposed dimensions of sustainability into their educational frameworks.