First In-Depth Assessment of Commercial Real Estate Job Market Gives Cause for Celebration as Well as Concern for the Economy

NEW YORK, May 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Results from the first SelectLeaders Job Barometer report, compiled by SelectLeaders, an online job board for the commercial real estate industry, in conjunction with Cornell University's Program in Real Estate, forecast solid hiring and compensation growth, but also reveal worrisome trends.

The findings were reported by Anthony J. LoPinto, CEO of Equinox Partners, a retained executive search firm, and founder of SelectLeaders, and Dr. David Funk, director of the Cornell University Program in Real Estate.

"Hiring and compensation provide a barometer for trends in the commercial real estate industry, as well as for the U.S. economic outlook," Mr. LoPinto says.

  Among the notable findings of the SelectLeaders Job Barometer are:
  -- Job postings for the commercial real estate industry have soared by 35
     percent during the first quarter of 2007.
  -- 66 percent of senior executives expect compensation to increase in the
     next six months, and over 60 percent of industry employers expect to
     increase hiring over the same period.
  -- The Southeast region, led by the Atlanta and Charlotte markets, had the
     fastest job growth of any region, experiencing a 60 percent increase in
     job postings in the first quarter, and, surprisingly, the Midwest
     region, led by the Chicago market, experienced a 43 percent increase in
     job postings, making it second in job growth nationally.
  -- New York and California are the hottest areas for real estate finance
     jobs, but New York attracts twice as many applicants as California,
     which has led to a talent shortage on the West Coast.
  -- Despite the fact that demand is growing for asset and property
     managers, the majority of job candidates seek the highly desirable
     "deal-making" positions that involve acquisitions, development, capital
     raising and investment banking.

"Candidates should pay close attention to regional and sector opportunities," advises Dr. Funk. "If the candidates are willing to pursue prospects in other states and sectors, they will broaden their options as well as their resumes, and with multi-sector jobs accounting for 46 percent of all postings nationwide, cross-sector experience makes a candidate extremely appealing."

According to Mr. LoPinto, there are several reasons why the industry is currently experiencing a shortage of talent. "One of the major reasons is 'The Brain Drain,' or lack of up-and-coming talent caused by few entering the real estate industry during the bust of the '90's, coupled with the baby boomers exiting the business and heading to the beach. Also, there has been an enormous influx of capital into real estate, fueling tremendous growth, and a corresponding demand for talent."

Dr. Funk adds, "With more companies going public, and greater institutionalization in the industry, the bar has been raised on the caliber and qualifications for real estate job candidates."

"Notwithstanding the residential sector's less optimistic viewpoint, which the study concludes is sector-specific, the industry is quite optimistic," observes Mr. LoPinto.

"The question remains as to whether the hiring and compensation bubble will get so big that it will burst, or if the current optimism is indicative of a lot more runway in the current economy," notes Dr. Funk.

About The SelectLeaders Job Barometer

The SelectLeaders Job Barometer utilized data collected from three sources: a comprehensive sample from 8 primary job boards of all online job postings for professional commercial real estate positions, surveys among senior C-Suite and middle management in commercial real estate companies, and 74,853 resumes from job applicants submitted on the SelectLeaders site, as well as the SelectLeaders Job Network, comprising 11 real estate professional organization career centers.

To view the SelectLeaders Job Barometer, please visit http://www.selectleaders.com/.

About SelectLeaders

SelectLeaders is the leading real estate jobsite for professionals. Association partners in the SelectLeaders Job Network include Building Owners & Managers Association (BOMA), Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute (CCIM), Commercial Mortgage Securities Association (CMBS), National Association of Industrial & Office Properties (NAIOP), National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), National Multi Housing Council (NMHC), Pension Real Estate Association (PREA), The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), and Urban Land Institute (ULI). GlobeSt.com, the real estate industry's premier online news site, is also a network partner. For more information, visit http://www.selectleaders.com/.

Cornell's Program in Real Estate is home to the Masters of Professional Studies in Real Estate degree, a two-year comprehensive, graduate-level curriculum that educates the next generation of real estate industry leaders. Cornell is also home to the Cornell Real Estate Council, an extensive network of over 1,100 real estate industry leaders, as well as the Cornell Real Estate Review, unique as a student-edited and managed real estate journal serving the real estate industry. To learn more about the Cornell Program in Real Estate, visit http://www.realestate.cornell.edu/.

About Equinox Partners

Equinox Partners, a retained executive search firm, is distinguished by its exclusive focus on the real estate industry and its industry thought leadership.

The Equinox team combines deep real estate experience with a proven track record in recruiting across all sectors.

Equinox is the sponsor of the inaugural edition of this report.