Engineering and architecture are a major driver of the U.S. economy—contributing $386 billion in 2019 revenue, and directly and indirectly supporting $600 billion in GDP, says a new study by the American Council of Engineering Cos. It contends that each additional $1 in design sector revenue contributes $1.55 to GDP.
More than 1.5 million Americans were employed in the design sector in 2019, with 3 million additional jobs supported indirectly, accounting for 3% of all U.S. jobs, according to the study by ACEC's Research Institute.