Market research can feel like a big, abstract concept, but at the end of the day, it’s about knowing where to look for the right insights. Over the years, I’ve built a go-to list of resources that I check regularly to understand market shifts, track competitor trends, and keep a pulse on the AEC industry. Consider this your shortcut to diving deeper into what’s really shaping our sector.
Here are some of my favorite places to find reliable, actionable research.
Industry Associations and Reports
Industry associations are some of the most reliable places to find data and benchmarks specific to AEC. These organizations publish research that helps firms track market shifts, client expectations, and practice management insights:
SMPS (Society for Marketing Professional Services): In it’s first year of publication, the Emerging Trends in A/E/C Marketing and Business Development is an annual report highlighting how marketing and business development leaders are adapting to change.
AIA (American Institute of Architects): Architecture Billings Index (ABI) is a leading indicator for construction activity and one of the best ways to track demand for architectural services. Published monthly.
FMI Construction Outlook: A general but essential perspective on engineering and construction trends across the U.S.
Zweig Group and PSMJ: Known for benchmarking reports and insights into firm performance, compensation, and management best practices.
Featured Resource: SMPS Emerging Trends Report
See how the industry is shifting — and where leaders are focusing next. Free for SMPS members; available for purchase by non-members.
The best leaders aren’t guessing. They’re scanning the horizon with the right tools in hand.
Real estate and Market Dynamics
Sometimes the best signals for AEC come from the commercial real estate sector. These resources regularly publish deep-dive reports that show where investment and development are headed:
CBRE Insights & Market Reports: CBRE doesn’t just track real estate, they translate it into signals for what’s coming next. Their reports highlight where money and momentum are moving, giving AEC firms an early look at the markets that matter most.
Cushman & Wakefield Insights: Cushman & Wakefield digs into what’s driving demand in real estate, from who’s leasing space to where development is heating up. Their insights make it easier to spot the trends that shape tomorrow’s projects.
Government Contracting insights
If your firm touches public-sector work, staying ahead of government trends isn’t optional — it’s essential. These resources point to where opportunities are emerging and how funding priorities are shifting:
Government Contracting Pipeline (Strategic Partnerships Inc.): Think of this as an early-warning system for government projects. It highlights upcoming bids, funding streams, and policy-driven opportunities before they hit the street.
AGC (Associated General Contractors of America): Beyond workforce data and construction outlooks, AGC keeps a close watch on policy changes and regulatory issues that directly impact contracting and project delivery.
AEC-focused publications
ENR (Engineering News-Record): ENR is like the industry scoreboard — from construction market data and rankings to project news, it’s where you go to see who’s building what and where.
Building Design+Construction: BD+C blends trends, technology, and big-picture thinking, giving design and construction firms a pulse on where the industry is headed (and how to stay ahead).
ArchDaily: With a global perspective on architecture, ArchDaily is the place for fresh ideas, design inspiration, and a peek at what’s shaping the built environment worldwide.
Cross-industry Strategy and Marketing Resources
Sometimes the best ideas come from outside our own bubble. These resources widen your lens, showing how business, leadership, and marketing trends are shifting across industries:
Harvard Business Review: HBR is the gold standard for leadership and strategy thinking. It’s where AEC leaders can find ideas that challenge assumptions and spark new ways of working.
McKinsey Insights: Big-picture analysis on economics, industries, and global shifts. It’s less about day-to-day and more about seeing the forces that will reshape business down the road.
Sprout Social Reports: If you want to understand audience behavior online, Sprout Social delivers. Their reports are a BD/marketing leader’s shortcut to smarter digital strategy.
Wildcard Picks: Podcasts Worth Your Time
Sometimes the best ideas come from outside our own bubble. These resources widen your lens, showing how business, leadership, and marketing trends are shifting across industries:
| Podcast | Link | Why listen |
| AEC Marketeer | Visit the show page | Marketing insights to help AEC professionals thrive. It’s like talking to a colleague who gets it. |
| Obsessed Show | Visit the site | Creative minds speak: stories that inspire designers, architects, and anyone curious about what drives creative brilliance. |
| Spill the Ink | Podcast home page | AEC and pro services. Marketing without the fluff; real talk on strategy, value, and getting heard. |
| PSM Show | Visit the podcast | AEC marketing and BD talk. Thoughtful, tactical, and frequently tackling the industry’s tough spots. |
Market research isn’t about collecting reports to have them. It’s about knowing where to look and using those insights to guide smart, timely decisions for your firm. These are the resources I come back to again and again to help AEC leaders see the bigger picture and then act on it.
These are the resources I lean on most. I hope they give you clarity and a few fresh perspectives, too.
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