Research That Moves Our Industry Forward
Building a strong workforce starts with understanding what people want from work—and what makes them choose to stay.
The TAAEF Workforce Research Study surveyed 1,500 Texans ages 18–58 across Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X, including Texans without a college degree and self-identified Texas Hispanics. The study explores perceptions, expectations and decision drivers across the full employee lifecycle—from awareness and recruiting to onboarding, development and long-term retention.
The findings reveal an important opportunity for the Texas apartment industry: Texans aren't rejecting careers in rental housing. In many cases, they simply don't know enough about the opportunities available to them.
What the Research Reveals
55%
of Texans
have a positive overall perception of working in the apartment industry
44%
of Texans
have considered a career in the apartment industry
71%
of Texans
recognize that apartment communities fill a major housing gap in America
And familiarity matters. Texans who are familiar with apartment communities as places to work are significantly more likely to view the industry favorably and are, on average, 30.8% more interested in pursuing careers across every job role tested.
From Workforce Shortage to Workforce Strategy
The research provides more than a snapshot of today's workforce. It offers a roadmap for how our industry can attract, develop and retain talent more effectively. The opportunity is to align the entire employee experience—from what candidates hear before they apply to what employees experience after they're hired.
Some of the insights reveal:
- Where Texans search for jobs, what frustrates them most in the recruiting process, and how missed candidate follow-up leads to drop-off
- What motivates people to apply and accept roles, and why 67% have avoided applying because they believed they lacked the “right” degree or certification
- What makes new hires feel welcomed, supported, and confident in the first 30 days, reinforcing the need for hands-on, people-first onboarding
Put the Research into Action
Recruit. Retain. Advance. The research makes one thing clear: these strategies work best together. Employers that intentionally connect these stages will be better positioned to attract new talent, reduce early turnover and develop a strong, sustainable workforce pipeline for the Texas apartment industry. Explore the research findings, then discover practical resources to help put the insights into action and build the workforce of tomorrow.
Explore the Research
Make informed workforce decisions with TAAEF's research, industry insights, and best practices.
