A recent study by JLL reveals that Asia Pacific is at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in real estate, yet the region grapples with a significant skills gap. The 2026 Future of Work Survey, conducted by JLL, indicates that 61% of senior business leaders in the region anticipate workforce growth despite the acute shortage of AI talent.
The survey, which involved over 2,200 C-suite and corporate real estate (CRE) leaders across 21 countries, highlights that Asia Pacific leads globally in AI adoption for technology management (52%), portfolio optimisation (51%), and CRE strategy development (47%). However, only 31% of organisations are preparing to redesign spaces for human-AI collaboration, and a mere 15% have reached the optimisation stage of AI adoption.
Susheel Koul, CEO of Real Estate Management Services, APAC at JLL, noted, “The companies pulling ahead aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest budgets; they’re the ones building adaptive capability and treating AI as a growth enabler.”
The skills gap is a pressing concern, with 42% of respondents in Asia Pacific identifying it as their primary constraint, the highest globally. This shortage is expected to shape the workforce landscape over the next three to five years, with nearly half of APAC organisations anticipating talent scarcity due to AI reskilling demands.
As organisations navigate this “technology dilemma,” they are reorienting investment priorities towards advanced technology and AI support to enhance productivity. The study underscores the need for strategic outsourcing and capability building to bridge the skills gap and sustain AI-driven growth.
