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Architectural job market expected to increase 5% by 2032, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says

2023-10-09T18:38:00-04:00

A new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted a period of growth of job seekers in the architectural field, providing a possible sign of hope for the labor market at a time when economic downturn and the rise of artificial intelligence have spurred fears of an employment crisis in the industry within the next decade.

Data that was released in last week’s Economic Outlook Report predicts a 5% increase in the number of architects employed in the overall economy by the year 2032. A total of 8,200 jobs will be added per year over that timespan on average, according to the report. The figures indicate a faster job growth rate for architects versus other occupations in the country. The Bureau says the demand stems mostly from a need to replace workers who will either retire or exit the architectural workforce entirely.

During that time, the total number of architects working in the United States is expected to grow from 123,700 to 129,700. That’s more than the 119,90...

What's behind the record share of women in the construction trades?

2022-11-23T14:00:00-05:00

The share of women in construction has hit a record high, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women surged into the industry starting around 2016, even as the number of men in construction lagged. ... What the heck changed?

Florida, D.C., and Arizona lead the country in terms of the percentage share that women occupy in construction industry labor markets for each state, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This can be partially attributed to a 117% increase in the number of Hispanic women employed primarily on job sites over the past six years, though sustained low unemployment rates combined with a “chronic shortage of skilled labor” and an increase in job training programs have been contributing factors along with better hiring practices overall.

“It feels like this is the moment where all of the preparation that the tradeswomen movement has been making over the years is finally being met with a huge opportunity,” National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment associate director Lark Jackson told WaPo before adding that last year's Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill was an additional “game changer for women’s inclusion in the trades.”

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As U.S. construction industry struggles to attract new workers with record-high wages, contractors call for education and immigration reforms

2019-07-15T17:54:00-04:00

Earnings for US construction workers now outstrip the private sector average as contractors face what’s being called one of the tightest labour markets they’ve ever experienced. The situation has led a contractors’ group there to slam an education system that produces “too many over-qualified baristas and not enough bricklayers” as employers are forced to increase pay to attract skilled workers from a diminishing pool.

Global Construction Review reports on the recent response by the Associated General Contractors of America to June's construction jobs numbers, which signaled a continued struggle for the industry to attract enough skilled workers — despite higher-than-average hourly earnings of now $30.73.

"The association urged the federal government to help attract more people into high-paying construction careers by boosting funding for career and technical programs in schools and enacting immigration reform that allows more people with construction skills to legally enter the country," writes GCR.

In a recent statement, AGC’s chief executive officer, Stephen E. Sandherr, pointed out what his organization sees as reason for the now dried-up recruiting pipeline: "The nation’s education system continues to produce too many over-qualified baristas and not enough qualified bricklayers and other craft construction professionals. As a result of these educational imbalances, too many young adults are ...

Architect-US: An Innovative International Architectural Training Program Calling For Host Firms Across The US

2015-07-13T14:40:00-04:00

This post is brought to you by Architect-US.

In a globalized market, it is increasingly important for design firms to have the contacts, skills and cultural sensitivity to work across borders. There are global issues affecting everybody that intersect the world and the industry is needed of platforms that promote cross-pollination and encourage global dialogues, breaking down bureaucracy and immigration barriers.

Conceived as a liaison between rising global architectural talents and U.S.-based firms, Architect-US is a groundbreaking professional career training program, that sponsors highly qualified bi/multilingual international architects and engineers to work in the U.S., as part of the U.S. Government J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The program offers US firms a valuable resource to connect and deepen ties with designers in emerging and established markets, with young professionals -from Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East- eager to learn from American techniques and me...