Overcoming talent accessibility challenges through strategic outsourcing

The architecture, engineering, and homebuilding (AEC) sectors are facing a growing workforce crisis.

With an estimated 188,000 job openings annually in architecture and engineering roles projected through 2032, the pressure on hiring teams is real and only intensifying. Complicating matters, 44% of current job skills will evolve within five years as automation, AI, and digital tools reshape the industry.

The traditional approach to recruiting is no longer enough. To remain competitive, firms must rethink how they build and scale teams by adopting more flexible hiring models, investing in upskilling, and leveraging global talent to fill the gaps quickly and effectively.

One of the most strategic responses? Outsourcing to proven talent hubs like Vietnam.

Home to a plethora of talented architects and engineers (thanks to institutions like Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture), Vietnam offers AEC firms access to a highly capable, cost-efficient workforce that can help fast-track delivery, boost productivity, and build resilience in a volatile market.

Talent accessibility trends and hiring roadblocks in AEC

A shifting workforce landscape

Across the AEC industry, firms are feeling the pinch. Securing and retaining top-tier talent isn’t just difficult – it’s becoming a growth bottleneck. Let’s look at the four major roadblocks AEC firms are facing right now:

1. Rising labor costs

AEC salaries are climbing fast. According to Novatr’s 2024 report, the average US architect now earns 89,520 USD, while senior BIM managers exceed 120,000 USD. That’s before factoring in benefits, onboarding, training, and retention efforts and other costs that all hit your bottom line.

To maintain high quality without sacrificing margin, more firms are turning to offshore teams in high-skill, lower-cost regions. This shift allows for better cost control without compromising on talent or delivery standards.

2. Widening skills gaps

As infrastructure investment and project demand grow, the shortage of qualified professionals (especially in BIM, CAD, and estimating) is becoming critical. The ManpowerGroup Talent Shortage Survey (2023) found that 77% of global employers are struggling to fill technical roles.

For AEC firms, this translates to project delays, quality risks, and lost opportunities. Outsourcing helps close these gaps fast by bringing in skilled professionals already trained on the tools and standards that matter.

3. High turnover and lack of continuity

Turnover in construction and design roles ranges from 20% to 38%, placing a constant strain on teams. Every lost hire means time-consuming recruitment, knowledge loss, and disrupted momentum.

By building stable, long-term offshore teams, firms can reduce churn and regain consistency, especially across documentation, modelling, visualization and estimating functions.

4. Remote work is here to stay

Roles like BIM coordination, 3D design, estimating, and visualisation are becoming increasingly remote driven. But for many AEC firms, managing distributed teams across time zones and cultures still feels unfamiliar.

With the right offshore partner, those challenges become strengths. Flexible work models, model sharing in the cloud, clear communication channels, and working hours flexibility allow projects to progress while your local team sleeps.

Why outsourcing dedicated teams works

Access to top-tier specialists

AEC outsourcing has matured well beyond ad hoc drafting support. Today, it’s about building long-term, dedicated teams with outsourcing partners who have teams with deep technical knowledge and global project experience. Whether you need BIM modellers, CAD technicians, quantity surveyors, or estimators, dedicated offshore teams bring critical thinking, experience, and proficiency in leading industry platforms.

According to ManpowerGroup’s 2023 Talent Shortage Survey, 77% of employers globally struggle to fill roles – especially those requiring specialized technical capabilities like Revit, Archicad, or CostX. Offshore teams based in talent-rich hubs such as Vietnam are already trained in these tools, having supported projects across residential, commercial, and infrastructure sectors (to name a few) worldwide.

This isn’t generic outsourcing. It’s targeted expertise that integrates seamlessly into your existing workflow, accelerating results from day one.

Cost-effective without compromising quality

Outsourcing to regions like Vietnam doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. It means rethinking how value is delivered. Vietnam offers one of the most competitive labor markets in the AEC industry, with highly skilled professionals available at a fraction of the cost of local hires.

For example, while a senior BIM coordinator in the US might command upwards of $120,000 per year (excluding benefits), equally capable professionals offshore can be onboarded for significantly less without compromising output or accountability. These savings aren’t just margin boosters; they create breathing room to invest in innovation, upskilling, or expanding core capabilities.

The result? High-caliber work, consistently delivered without the overhead strain of expanding your local headcount.

Built-in scalability

As project pipelines shift and new opportunities arise, the ability to scale your team quickly becomes a competitive advantage. Traditional recruitment timelines (advertising, interviewing, onboarding) can stretch for weeks or months, putting strain on existing staff and causing costly delays.

Offshore partnerships eliminate this friction. Dedicated outsourcing professionals can source and onboard AEC professionals much faster. This agility allows you to respond rapidly to project demand, win more tenders, and move faster than firms still reliant on fixed, onshore-only resourcing models.

It’s scalable resourcing, without the red tape.

Faster delivery through time zone advantage

Vietnam’s geographic position offers a unique operational edge for AEC firms globally. Different time zones can align so that when your local team clocks off, your offshore team begins their workday, creating a longer production cycle that accelerates turnaround times and reduces bottlenecks.

This “follow-the-sun” model allows for continuous progress. Markups can be actioned overnight. Documentation sets can be exchanged between meetings. Estimations and 3D models can move through review cycles without waiting days for updates. With the right communication and task management structures in place, you’re no longer limited by office hours.

The outcome? Shorter delivery windows, smoother project coordination, and happier clients.

Conclusion

The talent shortage in AEC isn’t going away but how you respond to it will shape your ability to grow.

Offshore teams don’t just fill gaps anymore. They unlock new capabilities, faster delivery, and scalable capacity. Whether you’re facing rising costs, skills gaps, or project delays, outsourcing to a trusted partner in Vietnam could be the most strategic move you make this year.

Want to explore the benefits further? 

Download our guide: Making the shift to outsourcing in AEC is easier than you think and learn how businesses like yours are gaining a competitive edge through dedicated global teams.