by Shane Henson — August 26, 2011—As the construction industry continues to suffer the effects of a prolonged economic downturn, the architecture profession has been hit especially hard. The declining demand for design services has resulted in an average increase in total compensation of only $1,600 between 2008-2011 for staff architecture positions, according to the 2011 AIA Compensation Survey from the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
“In addition to reducing benefits offered to employees, architecture firms have been faced with devastating conditions and had to make difficult reductions in expenses,” said AIA Chief Economist Kermit Baker. Architects have reportedly been faced with frozen or reduced salaries, decreased hours, reduced benefits, mandatory furloughs or unpaid leave, and full-time positions that have been converted to part time.
The survey did not address the question of whether the problems architects and those within the construction industry are experiencing could mean bad news for facilities managers as well, or if FM job earnings could be more stable because commissioning fewer new construction projects is correlated with a greater focus on managing existing facilities optimally.
