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Architects in Canada - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Adeline Wagner Adeline Wagner New York, United States Last Updated: December 2025 NAICS 54131CA

Revenue

$6.6bn

2025

$6.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

28,310

Businesses

7,184

Wages

$X.Xbn

Architects in Canada industry analysis

Canada’s architecture industry is navigating a challenging yet evolving demand environment, shaped by higher interest rates, housing affordability pressures and shifting workplace patterns. Housing costs continue to outpace incomes, keeping ownership out of reach for many households even as rental vacancies normalise in major centres, slowing traditional single-family housing but lifting demand for higher-density, rental and non-market housing projects. Governments are stepping up support for housing and community infrastructure, so architects are undertaking more high-density residential, institutional and public projects, often at lower fees but with steadier demand. Corporate profit has softened since its 2022 peak and hybrid work has become entrenched, shifting commercial demand toward renovations and workplace reconfigurations, which opens new advisory opportunities for design firms. Profit remains solid as service providers face relatively low purchase costs and many practices have pivoted to higher-value design and consulting work. Overall, industry revenue for architects in Canada is expected to climb at an annualised 2.1% through the end of 2025, including a 0.7% increase this year, to reach CA$6.6 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Nonresidential construction has been crucial to the performance of Canadian architects. When businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies face economic challenges, demand for architectural services dips significantly.
  • In addition to spearheading residential and commercial building projects, architects in Canada offer advisory services related to urban planning, project site master planning, interior design, landscape design, and engineering services. An increase in the number of businesses has spurred demand for these miscellaneous services.
  • Ontario is a prime location for architects because of its massive population. Cities such as Toronto and Ottawa contribute to high construction activity, keeping architects in steady demand.
  • Internal competition is very high because of localization and low barriers to entry. Product differentiation is often limited, so Canadian architects must compete on price and reputation.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $6.6bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Interest rate volatility and monetary policy shifts have impacted market dynamics

  • The architectural services market has been significantly influenced by the Bank of Canada's aggressive monetary tightening campaign, which began in early 2022 and continued through 2023. The central bank raised its overnight rate from near-zero levels to a peak of 5.0% by mid-2023 to curb post-pandemic inflation, making borrowing substantially more expensive for both businesses and households. This raised the cost of capital and reduced the economic feasibility of new developments, particularly in the residential sector, where mortgage financing costs spiked.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Architects in Canada
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Federal infrastructure investment will stabilize revenue amid uneven private-sector demand

  • The Canadian architectural services industry will benefit from substantial federal capital deployment as the government commits about $280 billion over five years, with $51 billion earmarked specifically for the Build Communities Strong Fund over 10 years starting in 2026–27, followed by $3 billion per year in ongoing funding. This investment targets healthcare facilities, post-secondary institutions, transit systems, housing and community infrastructure, creating a stable pipeline of architectural work through 2030.

Biggest companies in the Architects in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue ($m)
2025
Profit ($m)
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025
IBI Group Inc.
268.3
23.8
8.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Architects in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Office buildings, Retail and restaurant and Healthcare institutions. Office buildings is the largest segment of the Architects in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Multifamily residential projects remains a key growth engine for architects

  • Multifamily residential projects, including mid-rise and high-rise apartments and condominiums, are a major revenue driver for Canadian architects. These types of projects are reflected in the value of residential construction in Canada, which has decreased over the current period.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Architects in Canada plan and design residential, institutional, leisure, commercial and industrial buildings and structures by applying their knowledge of design, construction procedures, zoning regulations, building codes and building materials.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Architects industry in Canada include Office building projects, Retail and restaurant projects, Healthcare and educational projects, Residential building projects, Industrial building projects, Historical restoration building projects, Recreational building projects, Urban planning services, Interior design services and Engineering services.

Companies

Companies covered in the Architects industry in Canada include IBI Group Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Architects industry in Canada include computer-aided design (cad) , leadership in energy and environmental design and green building .

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 541310 - Architects in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Nonresidential construction has been crucial to the performance of Canadian architects. When businesses, nonprofit organizations and government agencies face economic challen...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

In addition to spearheading residential and commercial building projects, architects in Canada offer advisory services related to urban planning, project site master planning,...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario is a prime location for architects because of its massive population. Cities such as Toronto and Ottawa contribute to high construction activity, keeping architects i...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Internal competition is very high because of localization and low barriers to entry. Product differentiation is often limited, so Canadian architects must compete on price an...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The market share concentration in this industry is low, as the most prominent players account for less than five percent of the revenue. Consolidation is muted because of low...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of IBI Group Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for IBI Group Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Technology is rapidly expanding the way architects do their jobs. Although an architect can continue to work on paper, using 3D models, drones and virtual reality will make a...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Architects in Canada display high profit primarily because they operate in a service-based industry. Their net income has benefited significantly from a recent spike in non-r...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2023)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2023)
  • Assets (2018-2023)
  • Liabilities (2018-2023)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Architects industry in Canada in 2025?

The market size of the Architects industry in Canada is $6.6bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Architects industry in Canada in 2025?

There are 7,184 businesses in the Architects industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Architects industry in Canada?

The Architects industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Architects industry in Canada?

The Architects industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Architects industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Architects industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Architects industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Architects industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Architects industry in Canada?

The biggest company operating in the Architects industry in Canada is IBI Group Inc.

What does the Architects industry in Canada include?

Office building projects and Retail and restaurant projects are part of the Architects industry in Canada.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Architects industry in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in the Architects industry in Canada is IBI Group Inc..

How competitive is the Architects industry in Canada?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Architects industry in Canada.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

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