Jobs zone - South

As a result, building surveyors with experience in this area will be in demand over the coming years. There will also be a focus on energy-efficiency training for building surveyors.

Southern housing associations and local authorities are focusing on maintaining service levels, which is creating demand for housing officers, income officers and resident involvement officers in the region. There has also been an increase in temporary recruitment of stock condition surveyors to assist landlords in updating their asset database. Employers need professionals with partnership working experience, communication skills and problem-solving skills.

There are a number of graduates and professionals from other sectors expressing a keen interest in working in the social housing sector because of its perceived job stability.

In particular, there has been a large increase in new build housing site managers trying to transfer their skills across. However, some employers prefer direct sector experience, which means that those with limited experience continue to struggle to get jobs.

Jobseekers understand that there is strong competition for roles and so are more willing to accept reduced salaries. That said, salaries remain reasonably stable: surveyors can expect to earn between £24,000 and £33,000, maintenance managers £35,000 upwards, housing officers between £24,000 and 28,000, and housing managers £32,000 upwards.

The revival in local authorities building homes will have a major effect on social housing professionals during the coming years. Demand for development professionals will grow as councils require them to work on development programmes.

As the tough economic climate continues we expect the number of income recovery roles to increase as housing associations and local authorities struggle to cope with the number of tenants going into arrears.

Andrew Lambert is a manager at recruitment firm Hays Social Housing

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