Architecture and engineering firms today face nonstop pressure to meet deadlines, handle more projects, and maintain top-tier quality—all while operating with leaner teams and tighter budgets. But while project delays and budget overruns usually get the spotlight, there’s another silent productivity killer that often goes unnoticed: the rising cost of hiring—especially when hiring takes too long. Delayed recruitment doesn’t just slow down operations; it quietly chips away at profitability, team morale, and long-term growth.
According to the Annual Deltek Clarity Architecture & Engineering Study, 43% of firms take 31–60 days to fill a position, while 29% need 61–90 days. That kind of delay doesn’t just inconvenience your workflow—it stalls projects, overextends your existing staff, and quietly chips away at profitability. In a competitive, fast-moving field, waiting months to secure the right talent can be a costly mistake.
The Cost of Hiring Too Slowly: Ripple Effects You Can’t Ignore
Cost of Vacancy
Let’s say your firm has an open CAD drafter or project architect position. Until that spot is filled, the work doesn’t stop—it just gets redistributed. That usually means your existing team must absorb the extra load, stretching already thin resources even further. The consequences?
- Overtime costs creep up
- Team morale and energy drop
- Quality, creativity, and timelines start to suffer
And the longer it takes to hire, the more those issues grow. According to SHRM, the average cost-per-hire is nearly $4,700—but that number can climb quickly for technical roles in the A&E industry. With up to three months of lost productivity, there can be added stress on your team and delayed project milestones.
When vacancies drag on, firms don’t just lose time—they lose money, momentum, and the ability to grow. That’s the hidden cost of slow hiring.
Project Delays Can Hurt Your Reputation
When you don’t have enough staff, timelines shift. Deadlines get missed, clients get frustrated, and word spreads. In industries where your reputation is everything, one missed milestone can impact future bids, referrals, or renewals.
Imagine landing a new development or infrastructure project, only to realize you don’t have the bandwidth to get started. Either you rush to hire (and risk onboarding someone who isn’t the right fit), or you fall behind and risk damaging your brand.
The Talent You Want Might Not Wait
Top-tier architects and engineers are in demand. If your hiring process is slow or unclear, the best candidates will move on—to faster, more responsive firms.
That means your ideal hire could be gone before you even schedule a second interview. Now, you’re back to square one—spending more time and money restarting your search.
Your Current Team Starts to Slip
When roles stay open for too long, the impact doesn’t just show up on spreadsheets—it affects morale. Your best team members may start to feel overworked, undervalued, or unsupported. This can lead to:
- Higher turnover
- Less engagement
- Lower productivity
In a field where creativity and collaboration are key, that’s a cost you simply can’t ignore.
How to Maintain Quality While Reducing the Cost of Hiring
Fortunately, there are proven ways to make your hiring process more efficient—without cutting corners or settling for less-than-qualified talent.
a. Build a Talent Bench
Don’t wait until you need someone to start looking. Keep a running list of potential candidates, freelance contacts, and past applicants who impressed you. This allows you to move quickly when a role opens up.
b. Streamline Your Process
Audit your current hiring process. Where are the bottlenecks? Are you taking too long to schedule interviews or make decisions? Consider using digital tools for faster screening, and set clear timelines for each hiring stage.
c. Partner with a Staffing Expert
One of the smartest ways to accelerate hiring is to partner with a staffing firm that specializes in your industry. Firms like BizForce provide pre-vetted, remote architects and engineers who are ready to jump in and start contributing—often in days, not weeks.
We handle the screening, vetting, and onboarding, so you can focus on building great designs—not resumes.
Remote Staffing: Your Fast Track to Scalable Growth
Remote talent isn’t just a pandemic-era solution—it’s now a strategic advantage. By tapping into remote staffing, A&E firms gain access to a broader talent pool, reduce costs, and improve hiring speed dramatically.
Let’s say your firm needs an extra hand for an upcoming infrastructure bid, but hiring full-time isn’t feasible. With remote CAD experts or BIM modelers, you can scale your team based on project load—without the long-term overhead.
And when you partner with a staffing firm that knows your industry, you get talent who understands your workflows, deadlines, and client expectations.
A Faster Hire Is a Stronger Business
At the end of the day, hiring isn’t just an HR function—it’s a business growth function. Every day a role sits empty is a day your firm loses time, energy, and opportunity.
By speeding up your hiring process—and strategically partnering with flexible, high-quality staffing resources—you set your team up for greater success.
- Projects get done faster
- Clients are happier
- Your team stays energized
- And your profit margins get a healthy boost
Final Thoughts: Don’t Let Hiring Bottlenecks Hold You Back
Architecture and engineering firms thrive on momentum. When a great project comes your way, you want to be ready—not scrambling for talent. That’s why smart firms are rethinking their approach to staffing—by moving faster, planning better, and embracing flexible support models.
At BizForce, we help A&E firms eliminate hiring delays by delivering pre-vetted, remote professionals who can jump in and support your team without skipping a beat.
Need help building a faster, smarter workforce? Let’s talk. We’ll help you solve the slow hiring trap—and get back to what you do best. Contact us here.