Jefferies London is expanding its workforce despite a wider decline in estate agency employment as firms across the sector increasingly turn to AI to streamline operations.
New analysis from the firm shows the number of estate agents and auctioneers in the UK has fallen from 62,400 in Q4 2024 to 53,800 in Q2 2025, reflecting a shift towards automation in administrative and process-driven roles.
However, Jefferies London said it is taking a different approach, growing its own headcount by 30% so far this year and targeting a near doubling of its partner agent workforce by the end of 2026.
Central to this strategy is its in-house AI assistant, J.E.S.S.E. (main picture, inset) which has been designed to support agents rather than replace them.
ADMIN BOOST
The system handles inbound enquiries, manages outbound sales calls, qualifies buyers, matches them to properties and books viewings directly into agents’ diaries, reducing the administrative burden on front-line staff.
During Q1 2026, J.E.S.S.E. processed more than 3,000 enquiries, a 27% increase on the previous quarter, with the firm estimating it saves each agent around 10 hours per week.
Jefferies London said this allows agents to focus on higher-value activity such as winning instructions, advising clients and progressing deals.
The firm says its approach highlights a widening divide across the sector, as some agencies cut costs through automation while others use AI to enhance agent productivity and drive growth.
AI ADVANTAGE
Damien Jefferies, Founder of Jefferies London, says: “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.
“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.”
PERSONAL SERVICE
He adds: “At the top end of the market, the human element remains absolutely essential.
“When somebody is buying or selling a multi-million pound home, they want advice, trust and personal service. Those are things that AI simply cannot replicate.
“What AI can do, when deployed properly, is make a good agent more efficient and more productive and that’s exactly what J.E.S.S.E. is doing. It is helping our agents generate more viewings, handle more enquiries and ultimately grow their business.
“That’s why, whilst much of the industry is cutting back, we’re continuing to invest in people alongside technology.”
