Since 1999, the Real Estate Services Training Board ofthe Vocational Training Council has conducted manpower surveys every other year on the five major employment sectors within the industry, namely, development with services, management and maintenance, brokerage and agency, surveying, valuation and consultancy, as well as government departments and the public sector. The Estate Agents Authority supports this biennial project and participates in the design of the survey and analysis of findings through its representative on a working party for the project.

The 2003 survey commenced in February with a reference period of about three months. During this period a questionnaire was distributed to a number of employers identified through a stratified random sampling method. These employers were requested to complete the questionnaire and to undertake an interview with officers of the Census and Statistics Department, which administered the data collection process on behalf of the Vocational Training Council.

The survey covers the manpower situation and training needs for practitioners at various job levels in the real estate service industry, and the information elicited will be helpful to the EAA in the planning of licensing and training services for its own licensees.