More than 16,000 architects lost their jobs between Covid-19’s onset and last summer, according to a new report issued by the American Institute of Architects.
Those 16,000 jobs, according to the report, comprised roughly 8% of all payroll positions at the firms in question. While a significant loss, that percentage is below the 16.5% decline in payroll positions for all industries.
The Institute’s Compensation Report indicates that despite those job losses, average salaries for recent architecture graduates in 2020 remained competitive at just under $56,000, with regional differences ranging between $48,000 and $69,000.
The survey additionally shows that overall, compensation levels in the architectural industry increased around 0.3% between 2019 and 2021, significantly lower than the average 2.4% rate for all other professions during the same time period.
Benefits as a share of base pay in firms of fewer than 50 employees have also taken a hit, dropping from 18% in the last decade to around 14.4% in 2020.
In a statement, Kermit Baker, chief economist with the American Institute of Architects, noted that “while we have seen an unprecedented recovery in architecture firm billings during 2021, this report provides a valuable snapshot of the impact the pandemic had last year on firm compensation and employment levels.”
Despite the downer role of the pandemic, analysts believe the architecture industry should once again be booming in 2022.
In the field of what’s good for builders having to be good for architects, the Institute last month released a report indicating that nonresidential construction is expected to be on the upside by some 4/6% next year.
By Garry Boulard
