ACEC Research Institute New Report Released
New Report Released: 2025 Economic Assessment & Forecast for the Engineering and Design Services Industry
The 2025 Economic Assessment & Forecast report reveals:
- Industry revenue grew 5.3% in 2024 to a record $459 billion, contributing $685 billion to U.S. GDP.
- The industry supports 5.7 million jobs nationwide and generated $139 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue last year.
- Growth is expected to slow to 2.3% in 2025 amid ongoing tariff uncertainty, high interest rates, and workforce shortages—but long-term projections remain positive, with industry output forecast to reach $556 billion by 2030.
- Firms are increasingly adopting AI technologies to offset staffing challenges and boost productivity, even as the labor shortage and aging workforce continue to constrain capacity.
- Fiscal tailwinds—particularly remaining Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s tax extensions—are poised to help stabilize growth through 2026.
This comprehensive report quantifies the vital role our industry plays in powering the U.S. economy—and highlights the policy, labor, and technology forces shaping its future.
ACEC Research Institute Upcoming Virtual Sessions
The ACEC Research Institute has three upcoming virtual sessions this fall that will help firm leaders make data-driven decisions about the economy, workforce, and future of the profession. Registration is complimentary, but space is limited.
November 12 | Firm of the Future: Workforce Study – Engineering’s Talent Pipeline and Future Demand:
Explore how motivations, career expectations, and talent needs are changing across generations.
December 4 | State of the Engineering Economy: Q4 2025:
Get the latest findings from our quarterly Engineering Business Sentiment Survey, including firm performance, hiring, and market confidence.
Each session is free to attend and open to the entire engineering community. Hear directly from the experts behind the Institute’s most recent research and analysis. Register now!