August 2025

Sentiment in this field is highly divided, often depending on the specific role. Construction managers are expressing high levels of stress but are often motivated by good pay. They report working long hours and dealing with a constant stream of problems, but many find the pay a sufficient trade-off for the stress. In contrast, discussions from architects reveal a significant struggle with work-life balance. Architects frequently mention long, unpredictable hours due to client changes and extended project timelines. Funding from various sources changing hands, including project finance and working cap loans that change managing agents can lead to contractual slowdowns, especially with real estate and land investment powerhouses like Blackrock, Ares, and others often buying and selling compulsively. The sentiment suggests a need to set clear boundaries and implement better project management tools to prevent burnout and maintain mental health. There is a general feeling that while the work can be creatively rewarding, the demands often make it a challenging career choice.

The Architecture & Construction industry is in a period of slow but steady growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that construction employment has shown little change over the last month, with a slight gain of 15,000 jobs in June, which is the most recent detailed data available. On a year-over-year basis, the industry has added 121,000 jobs, or 1.5%. While nonresidential construction saw growth, residential starts fell slightly. The overall trend is a stable labor market, not experiencing the significant layoffs seen in other sectors, but also not seeing explosive growth.