Where in the world, as a young architect, would be the best country to find a job in an architecture firm?
In Europe and the United States, The Recession has placed Architecture – and Architects – in crisis. However, none have been more affected than young graduates: a report in January reported that, at just under 14%, Architecture Majors can “boast” the highest unemployment rate in the nation.
But surely there is somewhere in the world where the situation isn’t so grim? This is where you come in. When we crowd-sourced the question: “How Much Does an Architect Make An Hour?” the response from hundreds of ArchDaily readers across the globe provoked fascinating conversation and debate. So, as phrased by Rafael Berges, a concerned Architecture student pondering his fate come graduation day:
Where in the world, as a young architect, would be the best country to find a job in an architecture firm?
Keep in mind:
1. The highest salaries for beginning architects
2. Low unemployment for architects
3. High demand for architecture
4. Great design culture
And let us know in the comments below.
The internet, no wait.
If we are thinking about good design culture, English speaking, pay and quality of life, I think Australia is a great option. I worked there back in 07 and really enjoyed it and I’m planning on returning. There’s a great appetite for sustainable design and it has some of the worlds largest emerging economies on it’s doorstep.
:-)
I have watched my career dissolve since late 2008 and the careers of some very successful Architects and associated professionals such as Drafters, CAD experts likewise dissolving. If Australia is a good place for Architects at the moment then we are in a lot of trouble worldwide.
Well said Eric. Australia is ok but by no means great. There is very limited new work now occurring in Australia and with a fresh load of grads coming out of uni every year it makes getting a job even more harder. Developers hold all the power (cant blame them) and they know it, they play architects off against each other to get the best design and service at the absolute cheapest price, resulting in employees carrying out copious amounts of unpaid over time on feasibility studies with ridiculously short time frames in order to protect their jobs. Since all the government funded BER work has now dried up governments are investing money else where so private developers are the only people injecting money into the construction industry. With limited new jobs surfacing each month employers have the power to acquire the services of highly skilled architects at cents on the dollar of what salaries were prior to the GFC and the introduction of revit is now an essential component for one’s cv to be even considered prior to even obtaining an interview with regards to getting a job. Many architects share a similar view of the shear disappointment that the profession has become post late 2008.
Colombia is a good place to get a job. I’ve heard of cases about Spanish and other latin american archtiects moving here because of the job market. I started working as an architect even before I got my license. The thing down here is, the pay is low. A young architect in a mid-sized city like mine can make about $600 US dollars a month, and that’s way too low. However, all the people I went to college with have jobs, and that’s a good thing. I don’t make $600 anymore but that’s how you get started. Panama, being our neighbor, has a lot better market for arhictects. Better pay, better design culture, and a high demand for architecture.
Colombia has a market, but everything is politics there. you need to know people to get into a firm or getting a project. The mentality is to hire someone who has contacts not someone with talent.
also a very conservative market. a lets make the same stuff as in the last project, we made money out of it mentality.
The well re-known projects in Colombia are typically socially oriented. Only few firms are involved in the public sector which generally allows for higher commissions. Thus if you end up working on your own or with a small firm, chances are your projects will be financially limited and so will your bank account. If however you have little interest in the money and more in making an impact and working with brilliant people I highly recommend it.
Please can you help me get a work
I know where not to go and work and that is here in The Bahamas. I’m too ashamed to say what we make here.
I bet the pay is great in the Bahamas though, right? I’d definitely work there, given the chance.
Hong Kong
There’s barely any land left in Hong Kong.
but there is a lot of land across the border in China – HK is just a gateway :)
any great firm in mind? i am a young fresh grad from australia and love chinese culture!
I’m a young architect from Spain… Two years ago I moved to Bogota Colombia. I’m working in a young office and I’m definitely happy with the decision, good job, good salary and better expectations!!
Russia
Texas
I would think the cities being built in Saudi Arabia would be a great place to get experience. I can’t speak to the design culture, but they’re building cities from scratch there and are very ambitious about growth and development. Pay is good.
Totally agree, it is even a great country to design contemporary architecture. Since the general public’s taste is finally shifting to the modern side. That is being helped by a growing number of young Saudis who have lived abroad and want to westernize their living conditions…
In Asia, where they have the money to build and have a high demand for it.
Right now, Italy is one of the worst places to find a work. The recent recession is still hitting hard, and the bond between University, industry and professionals is very, very, very weak.
It’s not so uncommon to find people working in architectural firms to be underpayed and with short-term contracts, especially for young folks like me that recently graduated.
I am lucky enough to have find a temporary occupation abroad in Germany, and I have experienced that the environment in general is really different, much more work-oriented.
Right now, I’d say Germany, USA, Canada – basing my opinion on my experiences.
I’d be likely to include U.K., but I’m not totally aware of the situation right now.
by the way, can someone tell me something about the work situation both in UK and USA?
Can someone tell me how a PhD is “seen” around the world?
unfortunately, when facing italian firms/industry .. if you have a PhD you’ll always be an “academic”, too overqualified to work.
#sadness
In Brazil, Pernambuco, I achieve about $25,00 per hour, as young architect (I’m 25 years old – 2 years of experience since I graduated).
Felipe, which office do you work on?
Hi Felipe,
I’m an Austrian architecture student and I would like to do an Internship in an office in Pernambuco. Can you tell me some good offices here, where I can send my portfolio?
Muito obrigado,
Thomas
hi filipe, can u tell me your e-mail, I would like to ask u some questions about this city and architecture..I’m an Architecture student : )
Where did you graduate from?
hello this is Maria,
I am Italian
I am a dynamic and ambitious architect with five years experience.
but I failed to grow in recent years
I would like to know info about jobs
regard
Maria
Hi Felipe,
I’m a part 2 architect from the uk and was interested in going to Brazil to look for work. I would like to ask you some questions about the best way to look for work.
Thanks
Nadia
Hi Felipe,
I’m a part 2 architect from the uk and was interested in going to Brazil to find work. I was wondering if I could possibly ask you some questions about the best way to go about doing this.
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Adam, You are dreaming! $70K for a graduate with a Masters Degree, what planet are you on? An Architect in Melbourne with 10 years expeience might be able to earn that amount but a graduate with no experience won’t. The jobs market has flattened considerably since Christmas. There are still jobs but from what I’ve seen there’s 50% less jobs advertised than this time last year. Good luck with your studies. Hopefully things will have turned around when you graduate.
!!! Definitely not Melbourne! I have been searching since January (having completed my degree in November 2011) and have had no luck whatsoever! People are losing there jobs here, absolutely no hope for a graduate AT ALL! I have been told to expect a max of $45,000 AUS package including super annuation etc. Perth sounds like things are still booming – people have lots of money from the mines so are still forging ahead with new building.
I am an Architect from India and have more then five years of work experience.
I have also heard that, Australia is good place to work for experienced architects. But, i am not sure, will they take you even if you do not have study experience over there.
I am looking forward to apply for Visa to have chance of working at Australia. Any views guys?
Al
Keep trying mate, I finished my bachelors in melbourne in november 2011 too. I sent my resume and folio to 60 practices, this produced 4 interviews and after 3 and a half months I found a job.
4 months into the job and i’m now on $44k, which isn’t a lot, but is plenty for me :)
I find a great design culture here in Melbourne too! Fantastic architecture on you doorstep, and there’s plenty of talks and exhibitions either run through the institute or the universities.
Like the other two said, you can expect to earn 45,000 max as a Graduate Architect. 70K is a long way down the road. You don’t even earn that much starting out as a junior project manager.
70,000 as a graduate architect in australia is wishful thinking.
it’s more like 50,000 to 60,000.
but yes Australia is a great place to start your architectural career.
Dude I’m an architect in Sydney…In your dreams if you can start off 70K, you need at least 8-10 experience as an ARCHITECT… straight out of school you should expect between 35 – 45k in Australia and maybe after 3 – 5 years 45 – 60k mark if you’re lucky….
London
You must be joking! The situation in London is desperate right now! The pay is good, if you can find a job!
If the situation in London is that desperate right now…can you pls tell me why if you search in the sites bespoke,reed,jobstoday,adrem, ribappointments ..etc are plenty of architects positions?? I’m really just wondering cause I heard the same thing , that there is a big % of unemplyed architects there. But in internet seems like there are many open positions.
The situation is desperate in london because the market is flooded with graduates, and there are architects with experience wiling to work for less. who would employees choose? a graduate who knows nothing or an architect who can run a job successfully and independently? moreover the 40-50 odd architecture British schools that produce fresh graduates every year, most of whom head to london for a job, are adding year on year to the pool of graduates looking for that precious position. it is also the most popular city in europe and one of the most popular in the world for design based practices. but when there is no money, who will be hiring?
its difficult to be an architect – if you are unemployed. But there are people getting jobs out there. Or alternatively stay in your own country, market yourself for a client and build you own project. start in your mothers basement!
I am an american and traveled to australia trying to land an entry level architecture job last year… There were a few openings and the pay is excellent, however, being a foriegner firms really dont want to invest in hiring you. (which i cannot blame them) I would recommend traveling there anyways because they offer a 1 year work/ holiday visa and you can make a ton of money picking tomatos and paying down some of the loans (and having a great time).
conclusion- i returned home and found work at a firm in the upper midwest and make around 18/hour, still not where it used to be, but looking up.
Thanks for posting this, I am a student about to make the post graduation jump to a job. Nice to see this, and other people’s posts
definitely not portugal, we have great architects, but it doesn’t pay up. an intern makes about 2,5€ an hour. And the construction is complettely stopped, No funding no building, no architec…
I have seen in German news television about Portugal and its problems, especially for architects. They talked about people leaving to the former colony ANGOLA. After their war the country now sells oil an diamonds, creating a huge boom in the capital Luanda. Young architects with the ability of speaking Portuguese can earn about 5.000 US$/month.
Yes true ANGOLA is saving a few arquitects, also outsorcing from Portugal, but also angola is very very expensive to live and with the flood of people arriving salaries decreased a bit. Also you have to live in this kind of closed rich housing places while a lot of local people is starving in the other side of the city
What???? I speak Portuguese!!! Off to Angola!!
I have seen in German news television about Portugal and its problems, especially for architects. They talked about people leaving to the former colony ANGOLA. After their war the country now sells oil an diamonds, creating a huge boom in the capital Luanda. Young architects with the ability of speaking Portuguese can earn about 5.000 US$/month.
http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/weltspiegel478.html
Here is the clip, its in German:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49uVSk7UB14
Norway has a lot to offer; a capital in explosive growth and low unemployment.
Are you aware of many difficulties in obtaining visas? And what is the prominent language used?
The prominent language is norwegian, but most norwegians speak english fluently. I dont think getting a visa should be a problem.
You can check this website for information and application: https://selfservice.udi.no/en-gb/
a friend of mine went there and looked for work (architecture and product design) for three months in which time he had no replies from the companies he contacted. it’s a great place for architecture but it’s a closed market. no place for outsiders.
Norway is a great place for architects. The country has been quite invisible for a long time and now is starting to say something about architecture. No problem for EU citizents to get a visa, a bit more complicated if you are not. I have been 6 years working in the country now and it’s fine.
Almost everybody speaks good english, but you may find people who doesn’t want to at the office.
Good salary, not so much preassure at work and “easy” to get a certain autonomy. On the other side, the construction details and architect’s role in the building process are not the best. And you have to get use to the norwegian way of being.
AUSTRALIA
switzerland with no doubt! very good quality of architecture in general, perfect place to learn building site+concept, and you get paid for what you’ve done… but easier if you speak german.
and speak french too… is there a chance for english-italian speaker as me?
no, any. German/Frech required
Be aware!
Hi Thuy Duong,
There are some French firms in Vietnam. May I know are you Vietnamese Itlaian?
I just finished my bachelors in America and speak both french and english fluently. What are my chances?
And for a speaking portuguese, french, english? is it more difcult for people with 7 years of experience?
Condivido il tuo parere e sinceramente mi sto attrezzando per fare un’esperienza di lavoro in svizzera. Non sai mica indicarmi qualche contatto considerando che non parlo tedesco ma me la cavo un pò con l’inglese.
Grazie
Hi, I am a final year student from Delhi,India.will be done with grad aftr 3 months and looking for jobs in abroad.I would like to work in switzerland.Can you please suggest me good firms for young architect???and can i send my resume to you aswell?
Still Switzerland.
Richmond Virginia.
http://architecturerichmond.com/
Is Australia really the mecca everybody is making it out to be?
Not long ago there was a segment on the news on how architects return home after failing to find jobs in bureaus there …
I think CR because right now a lot of great architecture come from a generation around their 30′s and younger. Great example of that is Benjamín García saxxe . I Believe that this is the time for latinamerica architecture to rise!
Mexico!!!
Con los permisos para construir, suerte.
y cuanto pagan alli en Mexico?
Paris …
A lot of offices … a lot of work …
Toma, do you think a qualified architect from EU with 5y experience (french & english fluent, prior academic experience from Lyon and short work experience from Paris) would get a job in Paris? I’ve heard there were not that many offers for jobs in architecture / even more difficult for a foreigner?
Hi. I’m from South Africa and I’d like to say South Africa but I can’t speak broadly as I have worked for the same architect since my first year when I had just started out as part time. South Africa is having a boom also in the residential market so it’s worth considering but my colleague told me that Australia was a sure winner for job opportunities.
Can somebody tell me about France because i’d like to do my Honours in France and work part time during holidays? I’m also looking into Canada and I’m not sure of the process there either. Can anyone help me? Thank you.