The 2025 AEC Inspire Report: Key insights and strategic takeaways

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is at a crossroads. Faced with the ongoing challenges of talent acquisition, resource management, and technological transformation, firms are adapting to an evolving landscape where agility and foresight are paramount.  

The 2025 AEC Inspire Report offers a critical lens into the pressing concerns and emerging opportunities shaping the sector. Based on insights from over 300 senior-level industry professionals, the report serves as both a benchmarking tool and a roadmap for the future of work in AEC. 

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s findings and what they mean for AEC firms striving to achieve sustainable growth. 

The central theme of the 2025 report 

The 2025 AEC Inspire Report centers around one major theme: the future of work and the pivotal role of talent in driving business success. With talent acquisition and retention identified as the number one challenge across the industry, the report underscores the critical need for proactive workforce planning, improved project management, and technology maturity. 

This year's data also points to a broader industry trend: as competition intensifies, firms must balance short-term project needs with long-term strategic goals. The ability to attract, develop, and retain skilled professionals while leveraging technology to make smarter decisions is essential for sustaining growth in this increasingly competitive environment. 

Key findings from the 2025 AEC Inspire Report 

1. Talent acquisition and retention lead industry concerns 

It’s no secret that the AEC sector is grappling with a shrinking talent pool. With 67% of respondents citing talent challenges as one of their top three concerns, this issue surpasses even economic uncertainty and competition for new business. 

The AEC sector’s workforce is giving way to a new set of rising leaders with an average employee age of 41 years. Many founding leaders are preparing for retirement, and only two-thirds of firms have succession plans in place. Additionally, while career development frameworks are recognized as essential for retention, 53% of firms rate themselves as "fair" or "poor" at defining formal career paths. 

The takeaway: AEC firms must act now to implement robust career development programs, provide clear growth opportunities, and offer fair compensation to attract and retain the next generation of leaders. 

2. Business development tools are underutilized 

While 78% of respondents expressed optimism about the business environment, many firms face challenges in business development, particularly in leveraging tools designed to improve pipeline visibility and streamline sales. 

• Nearly half of all respondents (47%) cite poor adoption rates of business development tools as a significant challenge, up from 35% in 2024. 

• One-third struggle with siloed data and limited reporting functionality, while 20% lack a CRM system entirely. 

• Many firms still rely on informal "gut-feeling" processes for bid decisions, with only 40% consistently using a formalized Go/No-Go process. 

Improving adoption rates and functionality of sales and business development tools can help firms make informed, data-driven decisions and improve their success rates when pursuing new opportunities. 

3. Resource management lags behind other organizational maturity areas 

When compared to project and technology management, resource management continues to struggle. A quarter of respondents rate their resourcing practices as "immature," reflecting significant room for improvement. 

Key challenges include: 

• Hiring qualified candidates, 

• Retaining existing employees, 

• Predicting resourcing needs due to limited visibility into sales pipelines. 

The report emphasizes that forecasting capabilities are essential for resource management tools. Accurate forecasting enables firms to plan for upcoming projects proactively, avoiding last-minute hiring scrambles and ensuring effective resource allocation. 

4. Technology and data create competitive advantages 

The survey shows AEC firms are increasingly recognizing the value of technology and data-driven decision-making: 

• 80% of firms rate their technology maturity as "somewhat" or "very mature." 

• More than half are already using artificial intelligence (AI), mainly in business development and IT, though adoption in project management and finance remains low. 

• AI is seen as a workforce enhancer, with 67% of respondents expecting it to improve efficiency without reducing headcount. 

However, challenges remain: 

• 54% of firms report inadequate tools for data integration and analysis. 

• Resistance to data usage persists, with many employees struggling to fully leverage available systems. 

Firms that centralize and integrate their data across business functions will be better positioned to achieve accurate forecasting, enhanced project performance, and operational efficiency. 

Proactive strategies for success in a shifting landscape 

The 2025 AEC Inspire Report delivers a clear call to action for firms looking to thrive. Here are the actionable steps AEC leaders can take to address the industry’s most pressing challenges: 

1. Invest in your workforce 

Success hinges on a firm’s ability to anticipate talent needs based on strategic goals. Proactive workforce planning ensures businesses are equipped to meet both current and future demands. This includes: 

• Anticipating hiring needs based on project pipelines. 

• Formalizing career paths to retain top performers. 

• Implementing succession plans for senior leaders. 

2. Enhance adoption of business development tools 

With business development tools underutilized, firms should focus on improving adoption rates through better training and clearer guidance. Integrating systems to eliminate standalone silos can also create better visibility into sales performance and resource requirements. 

3. Expand and mature resource management practices 

Balancing workload capacity with staffing needs is critical for firms. Accurate backlog forecasting and resource planning tools can help companies alleviate operational inefficiencies and ensure they are best positioned to take on the right opportunities. 

4. Leverage technology and data 

Firms that embrace purpose-built tools and integrate AI into their workflows will be better equipped to increase efficiencies while improving output quality. But for technology to have a meaningful impact, firms must bolster adoption rates and address gaps in data reliability and usage. 

Looking ahead to 2026 

The 2025 AEC Inspire Report highlights a dynamic future, where the intersection of talent, technology, and strategy dictates success. Firms that prioritize resource management, expand their technological capabilities, and adopt proactive workforce strategies will find themselves better positioned to seize opportunities in the competitive AEC landscape. 

It’s a time for innovation, foresight, and action. The challenges are certainly daunting, but the opportunity to transform the AEC workforce and operational strategies has never been more promising. To learn more, download the entire 2025 AEC Inspire Report.