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2026 Workforce Policies & Practices Report Preview #1
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2026 Workforce Policies & Practices Report

Released On:

August 19, 2026
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What's Included

 

The Workforce Policies and Practices Report of AEC Firms is the AEC industry's most comprehensive benchmark of workforce management. It combines data on workplace policies, recruiting, retention, compensation, benefits, employee development, and HR practices into a single resource designed to help firms make informed workforce decisions.

 

The report covers HR department structure and spending, recruitment and hiring strategies, compensation practices, workplace policies, insurance and employee benefits, retirement and additional benefits, leave policies, career and professional development, performance management, and employee turnover and retention. With hundreds of benchmarks across these topics, you'll gain the insights needed to evaluate your firm's workforce practices, identify emerging trends, and make more informed decisions.

 

Data is segmented by firm size, growth rate, profitability, and other key characteristics, allowing you to benchmark your workforce policies and practices against firms with similar business profiles and identify opportunities to strengthen your workforce strategy.

$895.00

This report examines how AEC firms approach recruitment and retention, from the initial search and candidate integration to the involvement of internal HR teams and outside executive search firms.

Start Date
06.25.26
End Date
07.31.26
Age of Data
4 w
Industry
Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Surveying, Planning, and Environmental Firms
More about 2026 Workforce Policies & Practices Report
Recruiting & Staffing Policies
Retention & Compensation
Leave Policies, Career Development and more
What's New
Topics covered in this section include:
  • In-house hiring vs. outside recruiting firms
  • Online recruiting
  • Referral bonuses
  • Open positions
  • Candidate qualities
  • Hiring time
  • Retention metrics
  • Offer/counter offer
  • Hiring processes
  • HR spending
  • Background checks
  • Employee relocation
  • New employee probation
  • Performance review policies
  • Layoff assistance
  • Exit interviews
Topics covered in this section include:
  • Bad hires
  • Voluntary/involuntary turnover rates
  • Employee termination
  • Philanthropic services
  • Physical workspace
  • Staff training
  • Revenue/profit data distribution
  • Budgeting for pay increases
  • Formal compensation programs
  • Cost of living increases
  • Raises
  • Bonuses
  • Hourly staff
  • Overtime pay
  • 401(k) plans
  • Service awards
  • Company credit cards
  • Memberships
  • Tax returns
  • Employee assistance programs
  • Time sheet collection and pay schedules
Topics covered in this section include:
  • Paid time off (PTO)
  • Vacation policies
  • Sick leave
  • Holidays
  • Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
  • Paternity leave
  • Bereavement leave
  • Military leave
  • Tuition/fee reimbursement
  • Books/supplies reimbursement
  • Terms of education reimbursement
  • Professional registration
  • Professional society memberships
  • Career tracks
  • Training
  • This study examines the workforce policies and practices shaping today's AEC firms
  • Provides actionable benchmarks that allow firms to understand how they compare in the market
  • Data was collected through a 205-question survey
  • Answered by AEC firm leaders, HR professionals, operations leaders, and those responsible for workforce strategy
  • Hosted on Zweig Insights for a more streamlined benchmarking experience
  • All responses were collected confidentially and are reported only in aggregate