The sector study is a biennial survey commissioned by the Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) and co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, that collects and analyses statistical, sociological and economic data on European architects, the architectural market, and architectural practices.
The architectural profession in Europe is at a crossroads; the ACE sector study delivers a sweeping, data-driven look at an industry that is growing, evolving, and adapting to an era of economic uncertainty and shifting priorities.
Drawing on responses from 28,000 architects across 29 European countries, the 2024 edition of the Study has been expanded with new research areas, making it the most comprehensive analysis of the architectural profession in Europe. It serves as an indispensable reference for anyone interested in architecture and the built environment.
This edition sets a new record, with 29 countries from ACE Member Organisations participating—the largest ever number. Additionally, the sector study incorporates this year's national surveys conducted in Germany by BAK and in the UK by RIBA, further enriching its scope. The study shows that, there are now 580,000 architects across 30 European countries, marking an 8% increase over the past decade.
The profession is approaching gender parity, women now represent 45% of professionals. Most architects work full-time and a significant portion, 46%, are practice owners or principals - many operating as small, independent firms. More now work as principals compared with 10 years ago. The European construction market is valued at €2.6trillion and architect practices have a 1% share of this, generating total practice turnover of €26billion. Private housing dominates this sector, representing over half of architectural work. However, rising uncertainty has dampened outlooks, with 37% of architects expecting decreased workloads in the coming year, against 19% anticipating more work.
Architectural practices remain small; nearly 70% are solo operations. Despite challenges, average turnover for all practice sizes is recovering from the pandemic slump although inflation has eroded rises recorded over the last two years. Practices increasingly offer post-occupancy evaluations to gauge building performance, and more architects now engage in sustainable design, with 54% frequently incorporating low-energy design principles. Architects’ earnings have reached an average of €43,500.
The rise over the last two years matches inflation. A persistent gender pay gap remains, with male architects earning, on average, 22% more than their female counterparts.
“Architecture is no longer just about building structures - it’s about shaping the future. Sustainability is no longer a trend, but a baseline expectation. More than 54% of architects regularly integrate low-energy design, and post-occupancy evaluations are becoming more standard in the industry. The mission is clear: architects must lead in the fight for a built environment that is resilient, responsible and ready for the challenges ahead. And through it all, one fact stands firm: this profession is built to endure. In a time of economic shifts and global uncertainty, architects continue to innovate, create and inspire - designing spaces that are not only sustainable and inclusive but built to stand the test of time" - Ruth Schagemann, ACE President.
“We’re extremely grateful to over 28,000 architects who participated in this year’s survey. This year’s is the ninth biennial survey we have conducted for ACE and participation has reached a new high. The data provided by respondents shows a profession made up of very small practices; nearly half of architects run their own businesses. But a profession of small practices can still be significant; architects contribute a massive 26 billion Euros to Europe’s economy.” - Aziz Mirza, one of the report’s authors.
Download the full ACE 2024 sector study
About the ACE
The Architects’ Council of Europe, which RIBA is a member of, is the representative organisation for architecture at European level.
Its membership currently consists of 52 Member Organisations, including the regulatory and professional representative bodies in all EU Member States, six Observers Members (Serbia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, and Moldova) from the accession countries, plus members with special status (UK, Switzerland, and Norway), thereby representing the interests of over half a million architects from 36 countries in Europe.
ACE’s Mission is to
- influence, through advocacy, EU legislation and policies that impact on its strategic priorities
- be an influential and valued source of authoritative information for the architectural profession in Europe
- act as the unified voice of the architectural profession in the European institutions
- be an effectively networked representative body for EU architects and practices
- create an enabling practice and regulatory environment for architects and practices
- demonstrate the role of architects in creating a truly competitive, enriching and sustainable Europe
