Hong Kong licensed estate agents rise to 38,391 in October, a 21-month high

28. That was the net increase in Hong Kong's licensed estate agents in October 2026, and the third consecutive monthly rise.

According to an On.cc report on 2 November 2026, citing the latest data from the Estate Agents Authority, the number of licensed estate agents (individuals) in Hong Kong rose to 38,391 by the end of October 2026. That was 28 more than at the end of September and a 21-month high.

Branch numbers also recover

The same report said that at the end of October Hong Kong had 6,607 estate agency branches (business premises), 20 more than in September. It was the second consecutive monthly rise and a 20-month high.

Still 4,017 below the 2022 peak

The report said the record high for licensed estate agents was 42,408 in February 2022. Measured against the 38,391 at the end of October 2026, the number is still 4,017 below the peak, a gap of about 9.5%.

The industry's workforce is rising, but it has not returned to its peak.

Where the figures come from

All figures in this article come from the report, which cited Estate Agents Authority data. Before publication we could not verify the official licensing statistics for October 2026 on the Authority's website. The report also did not break the figures down between individual and company licences, so this article refers to them collectively as "licensed estate agents".

Analysis: what it means for recruiting teams

The following is editorial analysis, not part of the report.

First, 28 is a net figure. It is new licences minus departures, and the report does not give the two separately. The same net rise could mean more people entering the trade, or fewer people leaving. The former is a recruitment signal and the latter a retention signal, and they carry different implications for team strategy.

Second, the number of branches has risen for two months. More business premises may point to renewed demand for front-line roles. If the trend continues, experienced agents may have more choices, and teams may come under greater pressure to retain staff. This is inference only and needs more data to support it.

Third, the number is still about 9.5% below the February 2022 peak. A talent pool smaller than at the peak means recruiting teams may not be able to fill roles by poaching alone, and they may need to give more weight to developing newcomers.

For recruiting teams, more practical steps include:

• Check the official licensing statistics published by the Authority each month, rather than looking only at a single month's rise or fall
• Track the team's own new entrants and departures separately, to tell whether growth comes from recruitment or retention
• Watch the trend in branch numbers as a reference for industry expansion and competition for talent

Three monthly rises show a direction, not a conclusion. What matters is whether the rise continues over the coming months.

Compiled by the F50 Editorial Team from public sources, for general reference only and not professional advice. Details are correct as of the publication date and may change.