Prime estate agent, Jefferies London, finds that over the past nine months the number of estate agency staff has declined significantly, as firms adopt AI to manage administrative responsibilities.
Data from Statista reveals that the amount of estate agents and auctioneers in the UK dropped from 62,400 in the final quarter of 2024, to 57,700 in the first quarter of 2025. By the second quarter of 2025, this figure had dropped to just 53,800.
The reduction aligns with the growing use of AI across the industry, particularly in process-driven and back-office roles.
“There is a growing perception that AI is going to replace estate agents and, in many parts of the industry, we’re already seeing businesses reduce headcount and lean more heavily on technology. There is a growing perception that AI is going to replace estate agents. Our view is very different.
“We built J.E.S.S.E. because we wanted to give our partner agents every possible advantage, not because we wanted to replace them. It takes care of the more repetitive and time-consuming parts of the job, allowing our partner agents to focus on the things that matter most, namely building relationships, advising clients and negotiating deals.”
Damien Jefferies, Chief Executive, Jefferies London
While AI is reducing the need for staff in routine positions, the company emphasis the human element remains unchanged especially for higher-value transactions.
Jefferies London continues to expand its workforce, increasing its headcount by 30% this year, and plans to nearly double its number of partner agents by the end of 2026.
The J.E.S.S.E. system has already proven effective. In the first three months of 2026 alone, it managed over 3,000 enquiries and supported tasks such as handling sales calls, qualifying buyers, and scheduling property viewings.
Jefferies London estimates J.E.S.S.E. saves each agent around ten hours per week.
