Gitnux/Report 2026

Architecture and Design Industry Statistics

US$9.8B BIM software spend in 2023 signals major investment—discover how model-based workflows improve accuracy, cut rework, and coordinate projects.
282Statistics
73Sources
12Sections
1Visuals
50mRead
November 10, 2026Updated
Architecture and Design Industry Statistics
Elif DemirciWritten by Elif Demirci·Edited by Maya Johansson·Fact-checked by Jonathan Hale
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The architecture and design industry at a glance

The global architectural services market was valued at $411.7 billion in 2025, while U.S. firms entered late 2026 amid declining billings and cautious project financing.

$411.7B[62]
Global market size, 2025
5.0%[62]
Global CAGR, 2026–2033
204,500[1]
U.S. architectural-services employment, 2026
37.4%[62]
Asia-Pacific market share, 2025
Market size
Grand View Research estimates the global architectural services market at $411.67 billion in 2025 and $430.91 billion in 2026. Separately, the U.S. government lists $62.23 billion in 2026 receipts for architectural services under NAICS 54131.[62][19]
Forecast & CAGR
The global market is forecast to reach $605.62 billion by 2033, implying a 5.0% CAGR from 2026 to 2033. U.S. employment of architects is projected to increase 4% between 2025 and 2035, to approximately 129,900 positions.[62][17]
Market share & regions
Asia-Pacific held the largest regional share of the global architectural services market at 37.4% in 2025. In Canada, Ontario accounted for 44.1% of architectural-services revenue in 2024, while Atlantic Canada represented 3.1%.[62][63]
Segmentation
The global market is segmented by service type, including engineering, interior design and urban-planning services, and by end use, including education, government, residential and hospitality. U.S. Census data separately reported $39.43 billion in 2024 employer revenue for specialized design services, a closely related design-services category.[62][64]
Key players & concentration
Gensler was the largest U.S. architecture firm in Architectural Record’s 2025 ranking, with $1.863 billion in architectural revenue, followed by Perkins&Will at $719.54 million and HKS at $661.98 million. The ranking indicates a fragmented market in which the largest firms coexist with many smaller practices; a directly comparable industry-wide concentration ratio was not reported.[65]
Pricing
The median annual wage for U.S. architects was $99,280 in May 2025, while the median wage in architectural, engineering and related services was $98,440. AIA reported that non-licensed recent graduates experienced 7% salary growth between 2023 and 2025.[17][1]
Trends, drivers & challenges
In September 2026, the AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index fell to 44.7, below the 50 threshold for declining billings, while average backlogs stood at 6.2 months. AIA cited weak economic conditions, difficult project financing, high construction costs and client caution as major constraints, while BLS identified sustainable design, BIM and AI-enabled productivity as continuing demand and workflow drivers.[1][17]
Consumer behavior & competition
Architecture clients remained cautious in late 2026: the September project-inquiries index was 53.2, but the design-contracts index was 43.7, indicating that inquiries were not translating into signed work at the same pace. Firms specializing in multifamily residential work had backlogs of 4.8 months, compared with 8.0 months for institutional specialists.[1]
M&A
Recent activity has focused on geographic expansion and specialist capabilities. In August 2026, DLR Group acquired San Diego-based McFarlane Architects, while RATIO Design announced a merger with Helix Architecture + Design; Corgan also acquired WCGS Architects in August 2026.[66][60][33]
Regulation
U.S. federal small-business size standards classify architectural services under NAICS 54131 and set a $135 million receipts threshold, based on a listed national industry size of $62.23 billion. Architect licensure generally requires an architecture degree, paid experience and passage of a licensing examination.[19][17]
Latest news
The latest AIA/Deltek reading available on November 9, 2026, reported a September ABI of 44.7, down from 47.2 in August, with firms expecting average revenue to decline 0.9% in 2027. AIA also reported 204,500 people employed in architectural services in the latest available employment data.[1]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Architecture And Design Industry

The leading companies in the architecture and design industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 9, 2026 · Next review December 9, 2026

Verdict

Gensler leads Gitnux's 2026 architecture and design ranking with an Overall score of 9.5, with Architectural Record’s 2025 Top 300 Architecture Firms placing first. WSP is the highest-ranked engineering and design consultancy at 9.3, backed by ENR’s 2025 Top 225 International Design Firms listing as No. 1.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in architectural design services

    Gensler

    US

    Ranked #1 · 9.5 · Architectural design services

    Why we picked it: It focuses on architecture, interiors, and urban design, reflected by its Architectural Record 2025 placement.

    See in ranking ↓Visit gensler.com ↗

  2. Leader in engineering and design consultancy

    WSP

    CA

    Ranked #2 · 9.3 · Engineering and design consultancy

    Why we picked it: Its global architecture, engineering, and design consultancy footprint is reflected by ENR’s 2025 listing.

    See in ranking ↓Visit wsp.com ↗

  3. #3 overall

    AtkinsRéalis

    CA

    Ranked #3 · 9.0 · Engineering and design consultancy

    Why we picked it: Its architecture, engineering, and infrastructure scope shows up in 2025 CAD 11.0 billion revenue.

    See in ranking ↓Visit atkinsrealis.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Pick 2 is the highest-ranked company in the top 5 that adds a new segment; no further segment places in the top 5, so pick 3 follows rank.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the architecture and design industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Gensler

Architectural design services · US

9.5
2

WSP

Engineering and design consultancy · CA

9.3
3

AtkinsRéalis

Engineering and design consultancy · CA

9.0
4

Stantec

Engineering and design consultancy · CA

9.0
5

Foster + Partners

Architectural design services · GB

8.8
6

AECOM

Architecture, engineering and infrastructure design · US

8.7
7

Arup

Architecture, engineering and built-environment design · GB

8.7
8

HDR

Architecture, engineering and environmental design · US

8.4
9

HOK

Architecture, interiors, planning and engineering · US

8.3
10

Kimley-Horn

Planning, architecture and infrastructure design · US

8.2

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 9, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the architecture and design industry. In Architecture And Design Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/architecture-and-design-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Comparison

Revenue of the largest architecture and design companies

AECOM leads with $16.1B in annual revenue (group level, converted to USD).

AECOM$16.1B
WSP$13.3B
AtkinsRéalis$8.0B
Stantec$5.9B
Arup$2.9B
source-verifiedinvestors.aecom.com · wsp.com · atkinsrealis.com · stantec.com · arup.com2026

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

AI adoption is spreading faster in day-to-day work than in leadership reporting, and training is cited as a key barrier for broader digitalization. One figure: 32% of AEC respondents named insufficient staff training in 2023.

AI in the architecture and design industry

  • 28% of US architecture firms were currently integrating AI into practice in 2024.[1]
  • 61% of large US architecture firms reported using AI in day-to-day work in 2023.[1]
  • 74% of UK architecture practices used AI on at least some projects in 2026.[2]
  • 59% of UK architecture practices used AI on at least some projects in 2025.[2]
  • 27% of small US architecture firms reported using AI in day-to-day work in 2023.[1]
  • 8% of US architecture firm leaders reported that their firms had implemented AI in 2024.[1]

Automation in the architecture and design industry

  • 32% of AEC survey respondents identified insufficient staff training as the leading barrier to broader digitalization and AI adoption in 2023.[3]
  • 26% of AEC survey respondents cited organizational resistance to change as a barrier to broader digitalization and AI adoption in 2023.[3]

Digital Transformation in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 55% of business-services CEOs identified keeping pace with technology and AI transformation as their greatest concern in PwC’s 2025 global CEO survey.[4]
  • 40.4% of EU enterprises in professional, scientific and technical activities used at least one AI technology in 2025.[5]
  • 35.51% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to business-administration or management processes in 2025.[5]
  • 51% of U.S. technology executives reported no increase in performance or profitability from digital-transformation investments during the previous two years.[6]

Technology Adoption in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 18.55% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to ICT security in 2025.[5]
  • 30.87% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to accounting, controlling or finance management in 2025.[5]
  • 22.32% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to research and development or innovation activities in 2025.[5]
  • 27.33% of EU professional, scientific and technical enterprises using AI applied it to production processes in 2025.[5]

Cloud Computing in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 80.4% of Danish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2023.[7]
  • 91.2% of Finnish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2023.[7]
  • 90.7% of Australian professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2022.[7]
  • 77.7% of Dutch professional, scientific and technical enterprises used cloud computing services in 2023.[7]

Big Data in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 46.8% of Swedish professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[7]
  • 57.5% of Dutch professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[7]
  • 47.5% of German professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[7]
  • 45.4% of Finnish professional, scientific and technical enterprises conducted big-data analysis in 2023.[7]

IoT in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 36.3% of Irish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2021.[7]
  • 42.6% of Austrian professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2021.[7]
  • 52.0% of South Korean professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2022.[7]
  • 35.6% of Swedish professional, scientific and technical enterprises used Internet-of-Things technologies in 2021.[7]

Innovation in the architecture and design industry

  • 75% of US architecture firms reported conducting practice-relevant research in 2021.[1]
  • 14% of billable hours at US architecture firms were dedicated to pro bono work in 2023.[1]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Firms report access to data and analytics tools, but gaps show up in business-intelligence strategy and data-integration quality. One figure: 50% of organizations identified data-quality issues as the biggest challenge affecting data-integration projects in 2024.

Business intelligence in the architecture and design industry

  • 74% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms expected to reach digitally mature or advanced status within three years.[8]
  • 38% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms rated themselves digitally mature or advanced in 2025.[8]
  • 53% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms used AI tools in the 2025 Deltek study.[8]
  • Over 50% of architecture and engineering firms had access to data and analytics tools but lacked a clear business-intelligence strategy in the cited Deltek study.[9]
  • 78% of architecture and engineering firms reported using generative AI in the 2026 Deltek study.[8]

Data analytics in the architecture and design industry

  • 50% of architecture and engineering firms had access to data and analytics tools without a clear business-intelligence strategy in the cited Deltek study.[9]
  • 14% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms used generative AI for data analysis in the 2024 Deltek study.[8]
  • 14% of architecture and engineering firms used generative AI for data analysis, compared with 17% for data summarization, in the 2024 Deltek study.[8]
  • 62% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms expected artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency in 2024.[8]
  • 17% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms used generative AI for data summarization in 2024.[8]
  • 53% of US and Canadian architecture and engineering firms used AI tools in 2025, including data-analytics applications.[8]

Data Quality in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 23% of supply management firms spent at least 21% of their time cleaning data in 2024.[10]
  • 50% of organizations identified data-quality issues as the biggest challenge affecting their data-integration projects in 2024.[11]
  • 49% of supply management organizations reported that their data quality was good or excellent in 2024, based on a survey of more than 121 respondents.[10]
  • 87% of enterprise data leaders said traditional rules-based approaches to data quality did not scale to current needs in 2024.[12]
  • 67% of supply management organizations said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[10]
  • 95% of enterprise companies with at least $1 billion in revenue had experienced a data-quality issue directly affecting business outcomes in 2024.[12]

Data Governance in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 18.3% of organizations used a data-governance or catalog solution as part of their governance program in 2024.[13]
  • 81% of supply management organizations found their data-governance program useful in 2024.[10]
  • 32% of organizations in the 2024 governance study had a formal governance organization in place, while 68% had none.[13]
  • 71% of global organizations reported having a data-governance program in 2024, up from 60% in 2023.[11]
  • 61% of organizations had a dedicated data-governance function in 2024, according to a survey of more than 121 supply management professionals.[10]
  • 33% of North American organizations had a formal data-governance organization in place in 2024.[13]

KPIs in the architecture and design industry

  • 70.9% was the utilization rate for top-quartile architecture and engineering firms in 2023.[8]
  • 21.4% was operating profit on net revenue for architecture and engineering firms in 2025.[8]
  • 61.1% was the median utilization rate for architecture and engineering firms in 2023.[8]
  • 9.6% was the forecast net-revenue growth rate for architecture and engineering firms in 2025.[8]
  • 55.0% was the utilization rate for bottom-quartile architecture and engineering firms in 2023.[8]
  • 58.9% was the median utilization rate for architecture and engineering firms in fiscal year 2025.[8]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

International work continues to matter, with profitability reported as a common condition for firms active in international design. One figure: 93.6% of surveyed international design firms that reported profitability status were profitable on international work in 2024.

Growth in the architecture and design industry

  • International design revenue in the Middle East was nearly double its 2021 level in 2024.[14]
  • London accounted for 69% of UK architectural revenue in the 2025 Future Business of Architecture report.[2]
  • 83.9% of surveyed international design firms reported higher revenue in 2024 than in 2023.[14]
  • Revenue from international work by UK Chartered Practices increased 25% in the 2024 benchmarking report.[2]
  • International design revenue in the Middle East rose nearly 30% between 2023 and 2024.[14]
  • 93.6% of surveyed international design firms that reported profitability status were profitable on international work in 2024.[14]

Differentiation in the architecture and design industry

  • 1,504 architects were employed by Sweco in 2023, according to UNCTAD’s global architecture-firm table.[15]
  • 1,347 architects were employed by Nikken Sekkei in 2023, according to UNCTAD’s global architecture-firm table.[15]
  • 908 architects were employed by Heerim Architects & Planners in 2023, according to UNCTAD’s global architecture-firm table.[15]
  • 824 architects were employed by Perkins Eastman in 2023, according to UNCTAD’s global architecture-firm table.[15]
  • 761 architects were employed by HKS in 2023, according to UNCTAD’s global architecture-firm table.[15]
  • 1,544 architects were employed by HDR in 2023, according to UNCTAD’s global architecture-firm table.[15]

Strategic partnerships in the architecture and design industry

  • Architects increasingly provided services beyond the building envelope, including masterplanning services for urbanizing cities, according to RIBA’s 2025 report.[2]
  • More than half of RIBA Chartered Practice international revenue came from Europe and North America combined in the 2035 scenario modeled by RIBA.[2]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce constraints persist, with understaffing reported in multiple years and turnover framed against retention. One figure: 24% of US architecture firms reported being understaffed for architecture staff in July 2025.

Hiring in the architecture and design industry

  • 28% of US architecture firms reported being understaffed for architecture staff in July 2024.[1]
  • 29% of large US architecture firms hired staff without a professional architecture degree in 2024.[1]
  • 24% of US architecture firms reported being understaffed for architecture staff in July 2025.[1]
  • 23% of small US architecture firms hired staff without a professional architecture degree in 2022.[1]
  • 40% of US architecture firms reported being understaffed for architecture staff in August 2023.[1]

Employee retention in the architecture and design industry

  • 6.7 years was the median employee tenure at AEC firms in 2026.[16]
  • 4% was the 2024 turnover rate at small US architecture firms.[1]
  • 98% was the median retention rate for key talent at AEC firms in 2026.[16]
  • 10% was the 2024 turnover rate at large US architecture firms.[1]
  • 77% of architecture employees who quit said their previous employer could have retained them by meeting career-development, work-life-fit or management needs in 2016.[1]

Remote Work in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 62.8% of U.S. professional and business-services employees who could work at home did so during 2024–2025, while 66.0% could work at home.[17]
  • 54% of U.S. professional-services firms reported having at least one paid work-from-home employee in November 2024–January 2025.[18]
  • About 45% of U.S. professional and business-services workers worked remotely during October 2023–September 2024, including hybrid and fully remote work.[19]
  • 37.21% was the average share of paid workdays performed from home by U.S. professional and business-services employees in January 2025.[20]

Hybrid Work in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. professional and business services, 39% of full-time employees worked fully onsite during January–April 2025.[21]
  • 54% of U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs worked in a hybrid arrangement in November 2025.[22]
  • 61% of U.S. employees with remote-capable jobs preferred hybrid work in November 2025, compared with 33% preferring fully remote work.[22]
  • Across U.S. professional and business services, 38% of full-time employees worked hybrid schedules during January–April 2025.[21]
  • 27% of U.S. full-time employees worked in a hybrid arrangement in 2025, compared with 12% fully remote and 61% fully on-site.[23]

Upskilling in the architecture and design industry

  • 64% of design-and-make organizations had continuous-learning programs in 2025.[24]
  • 71% of design-and-make organizations had continuous-learning programs in 2024.[24]
  • 32% of AEC respondents identified lack of staff training as a barrier to digitalization and AI adoption in 2023.[3]
  • 48% of design-and-make respondents said they lacked resources to design internal training programs in 2025.[24]
  • 77% of design-and-make industry respondents agreed that upskilling was important in 2025.[24]

Employee Engagement in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 32% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2025, while 17% were actively disengaged.[22]
  • 33% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2023, while 16% were actively disengaged.[22]
  • 32% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2024, while 17% were actively disengaged.[22]
  • 34% of U.S. employees were engaged at work in 2022, while 16% were actively disengaged.[22]

DEI in the architecture and design industry

  • Approximately 50% of US architecture staff were female in 2023.[1]
  • 59% of UK architecture practices believed AI adoption would lead to staff reductions across the profession in 2026.[2]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Project pipeline signals diverge between inquiry activity and signed design work, while repeat-client revenue remains central. One figure: the September design-contracts index was 43.7.

Customer experience in the architecture and design industry

  • 35% of U.S. architecture firms said new clients were more likely than repeat clients to request uncompensated design concept work.[1]
  • 69% of U.S. architecture firms reported that at least some marketing and business-development efforts involved client-requested design concept work that should be compensated.[1]
  • 16% of U.S. architecture firms said repeat clients were more likely than new clients to request uncompensated design concept work.[1]
  • 49% of U.S. architecture firms said new and repeat clients were equally likely to request uncompensated design concept work.[1]
  • 80% of large U.S. architecture firms reported that some marketing and business-development efforts involved compensable client-requested design concept work, compared with 52% of small firms.[1]

Customer retention in the architecture and design industry

  • 51% of billings at U.S. architecture firms with fewer than 10 employees came from noncompetitive repeat-client projects in 2019.[25]
  • 94% of multidisciplinary U.S. architecture and design firm leaders rated repeat work from existing clients highly important for growth over the following three years.[1]
  • 71% of U.S. architecture firm billings came from repeat clients in 2023.[26]
  • 70% of U.S. architecture firm billings came from repeat clients in 2019.[25]
  • 77% of single-discipline architecture firm leaders rated repeat work from existing clients highly important for growth over the following three years.[27]

Customer acquisition in the architecture and design industry

  • 55% was the average project hit rate among U.S. architecture firms with annual billings below $250,000 in early 2024.[1]
  • 38% of U.S. architecture and design firm leaders rated competitive RFPs for new clients highly important for growth over the following three years.[27]
  • 59% was the average project hit rate among U.S. architecture firms with annual billings of $250,000 to $999,999 in early 2024.[1]
  • 33% of U.S. architecture and design firm leaders rated outbound sales efforts toward new prospects highly important for growth over the following three years.[27]
  • 46% was the average project hit rate among U.S. architecture firms with annual billings of at least $5 million in early 2024.[1]

Customer loyalty in the architecture and design industry

  • 86% of U.S. architecture and design firm leaders rated repeat work for existing clients highly important for growth over the following three years.[1]
  • 85% of U.S. architecture and design firm leaders rated referrals from clients to new clients highly important for growth over the following three years.[1]
  • 63% of U.S. architecture firm leaders identified reputation with current and potential clients among the three most important factors in profitability over the previous five to ten years.[1]
  • 56% of U.S. architecture firm leaders identified client type among the three most important factors in profitability over the previous five to ten years.[1]

Lead generation in the architecture and design industry

  • 94% of AEC marketing professionals relied on social media as a key channel for generating leads and building awareness in 2024.[28]
  • 24% of U.S. architecture and design firm leaders rated digital marketing highly important for growth over the following three years.[27]
  • 62% of U.S. architecture and design firms cited social media as an effective marketing channel in 2026.[16]
  • 58% of U.S. architecture and design firms cited firm websites as an effective marketing channel in 2026.[16]
  • 63% of U.S. architecture and design firms cited conferences and events as an effective marketing channel in 2026.[16]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Marketing channel emphasis centers on social and web presence, and budgets vary by firm size. One figure: 62% of U.S. architecture and design firms cited social media as an effective marketing channel in 2026.

Marketing in the architecture and design industry

  • 49% of U.S. architecture firm leaders rated their marketing effectiveness four or five on a five-point scale in early 2024.[1]
  • 4.7% was the average marketing and business-development budget share at U.S. architecture firms with annual billings below $250,000 in early 2024.[1]
  • 34% of U.S. architecture firm principals said marketing and business-development spending had increased compared with the prior year in early 2024.[1]
  • 84% of U.S. architecture firm leaders considered their marketing efforts at least somewhat effective in early 2024.[1]
  • 7.1% was the average marketing and business-development budget share at U.S. architecture firms with annual billings above $5 million in early 2024.[1]

Digital marketing in the architecture and design industry

  • Fewer than 20% of U.S. architecture firms had CRM or ERP systems in the AIA technology-and-culture survey.[1]
  • 25% of U.S. architecture firms with fewer than five employees used Facebook in the AIA technology-and-culture survey.[1]
  • 94% of AEC marketing professionals relied on social media for lead generation and brand awareness in 2024.[28]
  • Fewer than 20% of U.S. architecture firms with fewer than five employees used Instagram in the AIA technology-and-culture survey.[1]
  • 43% of U.S. architecture and design firm leaders agreed that digital or social marketing was important to their firms.[1]

Branding in the architecture and design industry

  • 63% of U.S. architecture firm leaders identified reputation with current and potential clients among the three most important profitability factors over the previous five to ten years.[1]
  • 94% of AEC marketing professionals used social media as a key channel for lead generation and brand awareness in 2024.[28]
  • 69% of AEC marketing teams had fewer than 10 people in 2024, including teams at large and enterprise firms.[28]
  • 85% of AEC marketing survey respondents worked across both public and private sectors in 2024.[29]
  • 36% of respondents to the 2024 State of AEC Marketing survey worked in architecture.[29]

Influencer Marketing in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 44% of B2B influencer-marketing practitioners say finding the right talent is their single biggest collaboration obstacle, based on Q1 2026 research.[30]
  • 78% of B2B influencer-marketing practitioners identify brand awareness and lead generation as their joint top challenges, based on Q1 2026 research.[30]
  • 86% of B2B influencer-marketing practitioners and creators prefer co-creating content with brands rather than amplifying finished brand content, based on Q1 2026 research.[30]
  • 74% of B2B influencers use artificial-intelligence tools to enhance content creation, based on Q1 2026 research.[30]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Technology investment shows expected output impact, while some firms still do not track project profitability in real time. One figure: 40% of firms did not track project profitability in real time in 2026.

Process optimization in the architecture and design industry

  • 33% of U.S. architecture firms reported using virtual or augmented reality or real-time rendering in 2023.[1]
  • One-third of U.S. architecture firms reported using artificial intelligence in day-to-day work in 2023.[1]
  • 42% of midsize U.S. architecture firms reported using artificial intelligence in day-to-day work in 2023.[1]
  • 61% of large U.S. architecture firms reported using artificial intelligence in day-to-day work in 2023.[1]
  • 50% of U.S. architecture firms that combined traditional design phases said technology changed their workflows in 2026.[1]

Operational efficiency in the architecture and design industry

  • 66% of architecture practices surveyed said technology investment would improve the quality of architectural output in 2026.[31]
  • 6.2 months was the average backlog reported by U.S. architecture firms with multifamily specialization in March 2026.[1]
  • 82.3% was the average utilization rate reported for architecture firms in a 2024 industry benchmark.[32]
  • 40% of architecture and engineering firms surveyed in the United States and Canada did not track project profitability in real time in 2026.[33]
  • 3.33 was the average direct-labor billing multiple for surveyed U.S. architecture and engineering firms in 2024.[34]

Quality management in the architecture and design industry

  • 21% of midsize U.S. architecture firms had a sustainability or climate-action plan in 2021.[27]
  • 541 architecture professionals completed the AIA specification survey conducted in the United States in June and July 2024.[1]
  • 75% of respondents to the 2024 AIA specification study were involved in technology decision-making for their firms.[1]
  • 66% of architecture practices surveyed expected technology investment to improve the quality of architectural output in 2026.[31]
  • 9% of small U.S. architecture firms had a sustainability or climate-action plan in 2021.[27]

Supply chain in the architecture and design industry

  • 61% of U.S. landscape architecture firms won new projects through repeat clients in 2024.[35]
  • 26% of interior design business owners said clients had difficulty making timely decisions in 2021.[36]
  • 30% of interior design business owners identified project or schedule delays as a current challenge in 2021.[36]
  • 24% of interior design business owners identified product availability as a current challenge in 2021.[36]
  • 23% of interior design business owners identified rising costs as a current challenge in 2021.[36]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the professional and business services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 60% of EU business-services enterprises sourcing abroad were in the business-services sector, compared with 40% in industry and construction, during 2021–2023.[5]
  • 47.5% of EU enterprises sourcing abroad sourced administrative and management functions internationally during 2021–2023.[5]
  • 39% of EU enterprises sourcing abroad outsourced business functions to external providers during 2021–2023, while 72% used affiliated-group insourcing.[5]
  • 29% of U.S. CPA firms responding to the 2025 National MAP Survey utilized offshoring, rising to 74% among firms with at least $10 million in net client fees.[37]
  • 28.8% of EU enterprises sourcing abroad sourced information and communication technology services internationally during 2021–2023.[5]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Cash conversion and profitability variability show up in accounts receivable and reported margins. One figure: 87 days was the average accounts-receivable collection period in 2024.

Pricing strategy in the architecture and design industry

  • 36% of interior design firms used hourly billing plus markup in 2023.[38]
  • 58% of interior design businesses charged hourly fees plus markup in 2021.[36]
  • 26% of interior design firms used other fee structures in 2023.[38]
  • 36% of interior design businesses charged an average hourly rate of $150 to $200 in 2021.[36]
  • 26% of interior design firms used fixed fees in 2023.[38]

Cost reduction in the architecture and design industry

  • 45% of U.S. landscape architecture firms raised wages outside normal annual increases because of market conditions in 2024.[39]
  • Staff costs accounted for around half of architectural practice expenditure in the United Kingdom in 2024.[2]
  • 21% or more was the profit margin reported by one in five U.S. landscape architecture firms in 2024.[39]
  • 87 days was the average accounts-receivable collection period for surveyed architecture and engineering firms in 2024, tying up cash that could otherwise support operations.[34]
  • 2% was the overall decline in profitability reported by RIBA Chartered Practices in 2024.[2]

Profitability in the architecture and design industry

  • 46.9% of architecture survey respondents said project profitability increased in 2024 compared with 2023.[40]
  • 27% of architecture firms reported profits of at least 15% in the 2024 Prairie survey.[40]
  • 12% was the approximate average profitability reported by U.S. architecture firms in 2024.[1]
  • 52% of U.S. architecture firm leaders reported profitability above 10% in 2024.[1]
  • 11% of U.S. architecture firm leaders reported profitability of 25% or higher in 2024.[1]

Financial planning in the architecture and design industry

  • 55% of U.S. architecture firm billings came from institutional projects in 2023.[1]
  • 53% was the average share of U.S. architecture firm billings from institutional projects in 2023.[1]
  • 52% of U.S. architecture firm gross billings came from new construction projects in 2023.[1]
  • 8% of U.S. architecture firm billings came from custom single-family residential work in 2023.[1]
  • 45% of U.S. architecture firm gross billings came from renovations, rehabilitations, retrofits, additions, or historic preservation in 2023.[1]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Asset-lifecycle coverage is uneven across briefing, handover, and later-stage services in survey results. One figure: 49% of surveyed AEC companies covered handover and closeout in the asset lifecycle.

Product development in the architecture and design industry

  • 74% of architecture and engineering firms expected to reach digitally mature or advanced status within three years in the 2025 Deltek study.[8]
  • 63% of surveyed architects believed AI would help architects and developers create buildings that better meet current and future performance requirements in 2025.[2]
  • 47% of UK architecture practices expected to invest in AI research and development within two years, according to the 2025 RIBA survey.[2]
  • 59% of UK architect practices used artificial intelligence on at least occasional projects in 2025.[2]
  • 38% of architecture and engineering firms rated themselves digitally mature or advanced in 2025.[8]

Product lifecycle in the architecture and design industry

  • 49% of surveyed AEC companies covered handover and closeout in the asset lifecycle.[41]
  • 38% of surveyed AEC companies covered operation and maintenance in the asset lifecycle.[41]
  • 55% of surveyed AEC companies covered briefing, concept, definition or feasibility in the asset lifecycle.[41]
  • 20% of surveyed AEC companies covered decommissioning and demolition in the asset lifecycle.[41]
  • 30% of survey respondents belonged to architecture and design companies in the buildingSMART lifecycle survey.[41]

After-sales in the architecture and design industry

  • 49% of surveyed AEC companies covered handover and closeout services in their asset-lifecycle work.[41]
  • 9% of buildingSMART survey respondents were clients, owners or employers who could commission post-delivery architectural services.[41]
  • 38% of surveyed AEC companies covered operation and maintenance services in their asset-lifecycle work.[41]
  • 20% of surveyed AEC companies covered decommissioning and demolition services in their asset-lifecycle work.[41]
  • 2.5% of buildingSMART survey respondents were asset or property managers involved in post-delivery building operations.[41]

Value proposition in the architecture and design industry

  • 40% of current UK architecture jobs used percentage-of-contract-value fees in the latest Architects Council of Europe data cited by RIBA.[2]
  • 58% of architects believed AI presented a risk of design imitation in the 2024 RIBA survey.[2]
  • 65% of surveyed UK architects believed AI would have an increasingly positive effect on construction-industry productivity in 2025.[2]
  • 40% of current UK architecture jobs used lump-sum fees in the latest Architects Council of Europe data cited by RIBA.[2]
  • 36% of architects agreed that AI was a threat to the architectural profession in the 2024 RIBA survey.[2]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

AIA 2030 Commitment reporting is driving measurable pEUI reductions while ESG reporting practices remain selective. One figure: 48% pEUI reduction was reported across 24,286 projects by AIA 2030 Commitment signatories in 2025.

Sustainability in the architecture and design industry

  • 71% of green-building professionals prioritized durable, low-maintenance materials as a circular-economy strategy in 2023.[42]
  • 427 projects were predicted to achieve net-zero energy among AIA 2030 Commitment reporting projects in 2025 in the United States.[1]
  • 1,400+ architecture and design firms had publicly committed to sustainability or materials action plans through AIA initiatives by 2024.[1]
  • 48% pEUI reduction was reported across 24,286 projects by AIA 2030 Commitment signatories in 2025 in the United States.[1]
  • 458 architecture firms reported project performance data to the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2025 in the United States.[1]

ESG in the architecture and design industry

  • 4% of built-environment survey respondents said their organizations were not currently reporting ESG performance in 2023.[43]
  • 19% of built-environment survey respondents used custom ESG reporting in 2023.[43]
  • More than 40% of built-environment survey respondents were using or expected to use Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures reporting in 2023.[43]
  • 29% of major interior-design firms reported ESG as their clients’ primary project goal in 2024.[44]
  • 3 architecture firms—Perkins&Will, HDR, and Feldman Architecture—described their ESG or CSR reporting approaches in an AIA case-study article in 2025.[1]

Ethics in the architecture and design industry

  • 38% of architecture professionals surveyed in the United Kingdom had experienced insults, stereotypes or jokes relating to protected characteristics.[45]
  • 83% of NCARB survey respondents said architects’ ethical responsibilities were clearly defined in 2022.[46]
  • 87% of NCARB survey respondents identified responsibility to the client as an architect’s ethical responsibility in 2022.[46]
  • 92% of NCARB survey respondents agreed that licensure requirements include an ethical-responsibility component in 2022.[46]
  • 51% of architecture professionals surveyed by NCARB had encountered situations in which job assignments challenged their ethical responsibilities in 2022.[46]

CSR in the architecture and design industry

  • 3 architecture firms—Perkins&Will, HDR, and Feldman Architecture—shared CSR reporting practices with AIA in 2025.[1]
  • 1 sustainability report from an architecture firm was described as one of the firm’s most visited external website pages in an AIA case study.[1]
  • 1 architecture firm began collecting data across its studios in 2022 and released its first ESG report in 2024, according to AIA.[1]

Circular economy in the architecture and design industry

  • 23% of green-building professionals implemented closed-loop water systems in 2023.[42]
  • 92% of materials in a London office fit-out designed by PLP Architecture came from reused materials in 2025.[47]
  • 74% of U.S. architecture firms undertaking reconstruction projects in 2025 reported basic interior updating and modernization work.[48]
  • 61% of U.S. architecture firms undertaking reconstruction projects in 2025 reported adaptive reuse or building conversion work.[48]
  • 54% of U.S. architecture firms undertaking reconstruction projects in 2025 reported tenant fit-out work.[48]

Carbon footprint in the architecture and design industry

  • 137 architecture firms reported predicted embodied-carbon intensities through the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2025.[1]
  • 24,286 projects were included in the AIA 2030 Commitment pEUI-reduction calculation for 2025.[1]
  • 460 architecture firms reported project data through the AIA 2030 Commitment in 2024.[1]
  • 48% pEUI reduction was reported across AIA 2030 Commitment projects in 2025.[1]
  • 56% was the weighted pEUI reduction reported by AIA 2030 Commitment firms in 2024.[1]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

International revenue sources are diversified, while global directories highlight emerging studios across regions. One figure: 31% of RIBA Chartered Practice revenue came from international work in 2025.

Globalization in the architecture and design industry

  • Global architecture revenue increased from $253.0 billion in 2019 to $260.8 billion in 2023.[59]
  • 31% of RIBA Chartered Practice revenue came from international work in 2025, approximately one pound in every three earned by participating UK practices.[2]
  • 56% of UK Chartered Practice international revenue came from Europe in 2024, while North America contributed 12%.[2]
  • 13% of UK Chartered Practice international revenue came from the Middle East in 2024, compared with 25% in 2022.[2]
  • £750 million was generated from international work by UK chartered architecture practices in 2023, 43% more than in 2022.[31]

Cultural adaptation in the architecture and design industry

  • 9% of UK Chartered Practice international revenue came from the rest of the world in 2024, outside Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.[2]
  • 12 Chinese architecture firms, six Philippine firms, five Indian firms and four UAE firms appeared among the world’s top 100 architecture firms in UNCTAD’s 2023 compilation.[15]
  • 30 emerging architecture studios from 27 countries were featured in Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2026, spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Oceania and the Americas.[47]

Stakeholder management in the architecture and design industry

  • 40% of architecture and engineering firms reported measuring client satisfaction irregularly, according to the 44th annual industry study.[60]
  • 51% of respondents to AIA’s 2024 specification survey were firm partners or principals, while 36% were licensed architects.[1]
  • Nearly one-third of architecture and engineering firms measured client satisfaction only at the end of a project in the 44th annual industry study.[60]

Distribution channels in the architecture and design industry

  • 100% of architecture practices in Total Synergy’s 2026 benchmark identified word-of-mouth or referrals as a source of new business.[61]
  • 85% of architecture firms identified client referrals as a business-development source in an AIA technology-and-culture report.[1]
  • 68% of architecture practices used RFPs and tenders as a business-development channel in 2026, up from 56% previously.[61]
  • 50% of architecture practices used online marketing as a business-development channel in 2026, up from 37% previously.[61]
  • 63% of AEC firms rated conferences and events as an effective marketing channel in 2026.[16]

Key questions about the Architecture and Design Industry

How big is the architectural services market in 2025?
The global architectural services market was valued at $411.7 billion in 2025. Grand View Research estimates $411.67 billion for 2025.
What growth rate does the market forecast for 2026–2033?
The global market is forecast to reach $605.62 billion by 2033. That implies a 5.0% CAGR from 2026 to 2033.
Which companies lead the architecture and design industry?
Gensler leads Gitnux's 2026 architecture and design ranking with an Overall score of 9.5, with Architectural Record’s 2025 Top 300 Architecture Firms placing first. WSP is the highest-ranked engineering and design consultancy at 9.3, backed by ENR’s 2025 Top 225 International Design Firms listing as No. 1.
What technology shifts show up in 2026 planning for architecture and engineering firms?
AI and BIM show up as workflow drivers, with BLS citing sustainable design, BIM, and AI-enabled productivity as demand drivers. In 2026, 78% of firms reported using generative AI in the 2026 Deltek study.
Is the market concentrated or fragmented at the firm level?
The largest firms coexist with many smaller practices, and a directly comparable industry-wide concentration ratio was not reported. The Gensler revenue figure of $1.863 billion shows scale alongside fragmentation.
What limits conversion from early interest into signed architecture work in late 2026?
The September project-inquiries index was 53.2, while the design-contracts index was 43.7. This gap indicates inquiries were not translating into signed work at the same pace.
Reference

Cite This Report

This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.

APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Architecture And Design Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/architecture-and-design-industry-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Architecture And Design Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/architecture-and-design-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Architecture And Design Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/architecture-and-design-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

73 sources cited across this report

  1. aia.org
  2. riba.org
  3. archinect.com
  4. pwc.com
  5. ec.europa.eu
  6. kpmg.com
  7. oecd.org
  8. deltek.com
  9. todis.pl
  10. utah.ismworld.org
  11. lebow.drexel.edu
  12. anomalo.com
  13. informatica.com
  14. enr.com
  15. unctad.org
  16. zweiggroup.com
  17. bls.gov
  18. bfi.uchicago.edu
  19. govinfo.gov
  20. fred.stlouisfed.org
  21. wfhresearch.com
  22. gallup.com
  23. policycommons.net
  24. autodesk.com
  25. architectmagazine.com
  26. scribd.com
  27. content.aia.org
  28. openasset.com
  29. pages.openasset.com
  30. spotlight-io.com
  31. ribaj.com
  32. bqe.com
  33. archpaper.com
  34. pkfod.com
  35. cdn-v2.asla.org
  36. interiortalent.com
  37. incpas.org
  38. cdnc.heyzine.com
  39. asla.org
  40. prairiecap.com
  41. buildingsmart.org
  42. usgbc.org
  43. ashb.com
  44. interiordesign.net
  45. arb.org.uk
  46. ncarb.org
  47. wallpaper.com
  48. communityhub.aia.org
  49. arbv.vic.gov.au
  50. grantthornton.com
  51. aon.com
  52. gov.uk
  53. kiteworks.com
  54. cpaaustralia.com.au
  55. isaca.org
  56. everbridge.com
  57. fticonsulting.com
  58. ace-cae.eu
  59. usitc.gov
  60. stambaughness.com
  61. totalsynergy.com
  62. grandviewresearch.com
  63. www150.statcan.gc.ca
  64. data.census.gov
  65. architecturalrecord.com
  66. go.psmj.com
  67. wsp.com
  68. atkinsrealis.com
  69. stantec.com
  70. cyclops.fosterandpartners.com
  71. arup.com
  72. hdrinc.com
  73. hok.com