GITNUXREPORT 2025

Upskilling And Reskilling In The Aec Industry Statistics

Majority of AEC firms invest in reskilling to stay competitive and innovative.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

77% of survey respondents said upskilling has improved client communication

Statistic 2

54% of professionals believe that reskilling should be a continuous process

Statistic 3

78% of architecture firms believe upskilling their teams is essential for staying competitive

Statistic 4

65% of engineers report that reskilling has helped them adopt new technologies more effectively

Statistic 5

The AEC industry invests an average of 3-5% of project budgets in workforce training

Statistic 6

82% of firms are planning to increase their investment in digital skills training over the next two years

Statistic 7

70% of AEC employees believe that continuous learning is key to career advancement

Statistic 8

Only 45% of construction workers have received formal upskilling in the past year

Statistic 9

60% of project delays in the AEC industry are attributed to skills gaps

Statistic 10

55% of firms reported a rise in productivity after implementing reskilling programs

Statistic 11

The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has increased by 40% among firms that upskill their staff

Statistic 12

75% of new AEC employees feel inadequately trained on emerging technologies

Statistic 13

68% of firms acknowledge that reskilling could mitigate labor shortages

Statistic 14

80% of construction companies see sustainability skills as increasingly important inupskilling efforts

Statistic 15

50% of AEC professionals believe that virtual training accelerates learning

Statistic 16

The global AEC upskilling market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% until 2026

Statistic 17

44% of construction firms lack a formal upskilling program

Statistic 18

85% of architects say that advanced digital skills directly impact project quality

Statistic 19

72% of surveyed AEC professionals think that reskilling helps adapt to regulatory changes faster

Statistic 20

65% of small and medium-sized firms have increased their training budgets for upskilling

Statistic 21

90% of engineering firms saw improved project outcomes after investing in employee reskilling

Statistic 22

63% of construction workers consider digital skills as the most valuable new competency

Statistic 23

78% of firms using digital twins have upskilled their staff on new simulation tools

Statistic 24

Only 30% of AEC firms provide ongoing formal reskilling or upskilling programs

Statistic 25

84% of respondents from the industry view upskilling as a key component of digital transformation

Statistic 26

69% of firms plan to partner with educational institutions for workforce upskilling

Statistic 27

52% of construction managers believe that lack of skills is a barrier to project efficiency

Statistic 28

77% of architecture firms report a need for reskilling staff in sustainable design practices

Statistic 29

45% of employees see virtual reality training as more effective than traditional methods

Statistic 30

88% of companies invest in soft skills development alongside technical upskilling

Statistic 31

63% of industry leaders believe that upskilling influences client satisfaction positively

Statistic 32

71% of firms reported a 15% reduction in rework costs after implementing upskilling initiatives

Statistic 33

The use of online learning platforms in the AEC industry increased by 60% during the COVID-19 pandemic

Statistic 34

73% of construction firms are prioritizing digital skills training for their workforce

Statistic 35

62% of engineers believe that reskilling is necessary due to rapid technological change

Statistic 36

80% of AEC companies recognize the importance of upskilling for innovation

Statistic 37

68% of firms have experienced improved safety records after investing in worker upskilling

Statistic 38

78% of industry executives agree that reskilling is critical for future-proofing their workforce

Statistic 39

59% of architects have completed training in new construction materials through upskilling programs

Statistic 40

67% of the industry’s workforce is interested in learning new digital project management tools

Statistic 41

83% of firms surveyed plan to increase investment in AI and automation skills

Statistic 42

49% of construction workers across all age groups believe ongoing upskilling improves job security

Statistic 43

70% of industry leaders are implementing blended learning approaches for training

Statistic 44

87% of firms report that upskilling has led to better project collaboration and communication

Statistic 45

65% of small firms cite limited resources as a barrier to upskilling

Statistic 46

76% of industry professionals favor portable micro-credential programs for reskilling purposes

Statistic 47

69% of the AEC workforce expressed interest in learning about renewable energy integration

Statistic 48

74% of large firms have established mentorship programs to facilitate upskilling

Statistic 49

58% of firms report difficulty in finding skilled workers for specialized roles

Statistic 50

66% of the industry believes that upskilling improves employee retention

Statistic 51

49% of industry professionals want more training on regulatory compliance and safety standards

Statistic 52

85% of the industry believes that digital literacy should be integrated into all levels of professional development

Statistic 53

79% of architectural firms have increased their digital tool training since 2020

Statistic 54

62% of industry leaders cite lack of time as a barrier to employee reskilling

Statistic 55

53% of firms plan to implement virtual reality training modules in the next year

Statistic 56

64% of construction managers view data analysis skills as increasingly critical

Statistic 57

90% of companies report that reskilling reduces turnover rates

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Key Highlights

78% of architecture firms believe upskilling their teams is essential for staying competitive
65% of engineers report that reskilling has helped them adopt new technologies more effectively
The AEC industry invests an average of 3-5% of project budgets in workforce training
82% of firms are planning to increase their investment in digital skills training over the next two years
70% of AEC employees believe that continuous learning is key to career advancement
Only 45% of construction workers have received formal upskilling in the past year
60% of project delays in the AEC industry are attributed to skills gaps
55% of firms reported a rise in productivity after implementing reskilling programs
The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has increased by 40% among firms that upskill their staff
75% of new AEC employees feel inadequately trained on emerging technologies
68% of firms acknowledge that reskilling could mitigate labor shortages
80% of construction companies see sustainability skills as increasingly important inupskilling efforts
50% of AEC professionals believe that virtual training accelerates learning

In an industry where 82% of firms are set to boost digital skills training and 78% believe upskilling is vital for staying competitive, the AEC sector is increasingly recognizing that investing in workforce development is not just beneficial but essential for future growth and innovation.

Upskilling Initiatives

77% of survey respondents said upskilling has improved client communication

Upskilling Initiatives Interpretation

With 77% of respondents affirming that upskilling enhances client communication, it's clear that investing in workforce development isn't just about skills—it's about building trust and clarity in the AEC industry's future.

Workforce Development

54% of professionals believe that reskilling should be a continuous process

Workforce Development Interpretation

With 54% of professionals advocating for ongoing reskilling, the AEC industry is evidently recognizing that in a rapidly evolving landscape, learning isn't a one-time event but a perpetual necessity to stay ahead.

Workforce Development and Upskilling Initiatives

78% of architecture firms believe upskilling their teams is essential for staying competitive
65% of engineers report that reskilling has helped them adopt new technologies more effectively
The AEC industry invests an average of 3-5% of project budgets in workforce training
82% of firms are planning to increase their investment in digital skills training over the next two years
70% of AEC employees believe that continuous learning is key to career advancement
Only 45% of construction workers have received formal upskilling in the past year
60% of project delays in the AEC industry are attributed to skills gaps
55% of firms reported a rise in productivity after implementing reskilling programs
The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has increased by 40% among firms that upskill their staff
75% of new AEC employees feel inadequately trained on emerging technologies
68% of firms acknowledge that reskilling could mitigate labor shortages
80% of construction companies see sustainability skills as increasingly important inupskilling efforts
50% of AEC professionals believe that virtual training accelerates learning
The global AEC upskilling market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7% until 2026
44% of construction firms lack a formal upskilling program
85% of architects say that advanced digital skills directly impact project quality
72% of surveyed AEC professionals think that reskilling helps adapt to regulatory changes faster
65% of small and medium-sized firms have increased their training budgets for upskilling
90% of engineering firms saw improved project outcomes after investing in employee reskilling
63% of construction workers consider digital skills as the most valuable new competency
78% of firms using digital twins have upskilled their staff on new simulation tools
Only 30% of AEC firms provide ongoing formal reskilling or upskilling programs
84% of respondents from the industry view upskilling as a key component of digital transformation
69% of firms plan to partner with educational institutions for workforce upskilling
52% of construction managers believe that lack of skills is a barrier to project efficiency
77% of architecture firms report a need for reskilling staff in sustainable design practices
45% of employees see virtual reality training as more effective than traditional methods
88% of companies invest in soft skills development alongside technical upskilling
63% of industry leaders believe that upskilling influences client satisfaction positively
71% of firms reported a 15% reduction in rework costs after implementing upskilling initiatives
The use of online learning platforms in the AEC industry increased by 60% during the COVID-19 pandemic
73% of construction firms are prioritizing digital skills training for their workforce
62% of engineers believe that reskilling is necessary due to rapid technological change
80% of AEC companies recognize the importance of upskilling for innovation
68% of firms have experienced improved safety records after investing in worker upskilling
78% of industry executives agree that reskilling is critical for future-proofing their workforce
59% of architects have completed training in new construction materials through upskilling programs
67% of the industry’s workforce is interested in learning new digital project management tools
83% of firms surveyed plan to increase investment in AI and automation skills
49% of construction workers across all age groups believe ongoing upskilling improves job security
70% of industry leaders are implementing blended learning approaches for training
87% of firms report that upskilling has led to better project collaboration and communication
65% of small firms cite limited resources as a barrier to upskilling
76% of industry professionals favor portable micro-credential programs for reskilling purposes
69% of the AEC workforce expressed interest in learning about renewable energy integration
74% of large firms have established mentorship programs to facilitate upskilling
58% of firms report difficulty in finding skilled workers for specialized roles
66% of the industry believes that upskilling improves employee retention
49% of industry professionals want more training on regulatory compliance and safety standards
85% of the industry believes that digital literacy should be integrated into all levels of professional development
79% of architectural firms have increased their digital tool training since 2020
62% of industry leaders cite lack of time as a barrier to employee reskilling
53% of firms plan to implement virtual reality training modules in the next year
64% of construction managers view data analysis skills as increasingly critical
90% of companies report that reskilling reduces turnover rates

Workforce Development and Upskilling Initiatives Interpretation

In an industry where delays cost millions and sustainability is non-negotiable, a majority of AEC firms are betting that upskilling and reskilling—not just for competitive edge but for survival—are the real blueprints for building a future-proof workforce, even as many workers remain in the dark about the latest digital tools and training opportunities.