Resource
Overview
The U.S. Engineering and Design Services industry continues to demonstrate resilience, even as broader construction activity faces economic headwinds. But with investment increasingly concentrated in infrastructure, energy, data centers, and other technically complex markets, where will the industry’s next opportunities for growth emerge?
The ACEC Research Institute’s 2026 Economic Assessment and Forecast of the Engineering and Design Services Industry examines the industry’s economic performance, contribution to the U.S. economy, and outlook through 2031.
Conducted by Rockport Analytics, this seventh annual study draws on public, private, and proprietary data to assess industry revenue, employment, economic impact, and the market forces shaping future demand.
Why This Matters
Engineering and Design Services plays a critical role in supporting the nation’s infrastructure, economic development, and technological advancement. Yet the industry’s outlook is increasingly shaped by where investment is occurring, rather than the overall pace of construction spending.
While conventional commercial and residential construction face continued financing and cost pressures, engineering-intensive markets are creating new opportunities for growth.
Understanding these shifts is essential for engineering firm leaders making decisions about business development, workforce planning, market expansion, and long-term investment.
The Institute’s annual forecast provides a data-driven perspective on these changing conditions, helping firms better understand the opportunities and risks ahead.
Key Findings
The 2026 assessment reveals several important trends shaping the industry’s economic outlook:
- Industry Revenue Continues to Grow: Engineering and Design Services revenue is projected to increase 5.6% in 2026, reaching $506.6 billion, following 4.5% growth in 2025.
- Engineering’s Economic Impact Remains Significant: In 2025, the industry supported $717.7 billion in U.S. GDP and 5.8 million jobs through its direct operations and broader economic activity.
- Engineering-Intensive Markets Are Outperforming: While total U.S. construction spending is forecast to decline 1.3% in 2026, engineering-intensive construction segments are projected to grow 4.2%, reflecting a shift in where investment is concentrated.
- Growth Opportunities Come With Constraints: Healthy project backlogs and infrastructure investment support continued demand, but financing costs, material-price pressures, policy uncertainty, and specialized workforce needs remain important challenges.
What This Means for Engineering Firms
The outlook through 2031 presents opportunities for engineering firms, but the benefits of continued industry growth will not be distributed evenly.
Understanding where demand is accelerating, how infrastructure funding is translating into project activity, and which economic pressures could affect future investment will be increasingly important to strategic planning.
The research provides a detailed examination of the market, policy, workforce, and investment trends influencing the industry, along with state-level economic impact data and revenue projections through 2031.
The 2026 Economic Assessment and Forecast provides a clearer picture of the economic forces shaping the industry and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
Access the Full Report
Download the 2026 Economic Assessment and Forecast of the Engineering and Design Services Industry to explore the complete economic analysis, industry revenue projections, state-by-state economic contributions, and market trends shaping the future of engineering and design services.