Architecture Jobs in Seattle? (apartments, condos, job market)

[elrupps]

Hi all,

Are there any architects or engineers on the forum that can tell me how the architecture industry is going?

I have been living outside the states and currently have a job at a nice architecture firm in Mexico but I'm really yearning to move back to the US. I have been eyeing Seattle because I think the city would be a great fit but I have no clue how the architecture job market is doing.

For reference I'm in my mid 20s, have a B.Arch and 3 years of work experience involving both architecture design, drafting and construction management.

Any comments would be helpful.

Thanks in advance.

[hamellr]

Architecture Degrees are making the top five lists of "most useless," and "most hated" degrees right now.

Do you have any experience in "Green" Architecture?

[Vinylly]

Seattle ecomomy seems to be picking up. There seems to be construction cranes on every block in the city. Construction is going on as never seen in my lifetime in Seattle. Surely architects and engineers are busy at their drafting tables. On the otherhand, my nephew is an architect, working for a small firm. He said everybody had been laid off but himself. So, maybe it's only the high-rise bulding boom that is in blossom with all kinds of apartments and condos going up, getting prepared for the next million or two million of new people to hit Seattle. (Thanks to this website)

[elrupps]

Thanks for the replies!!

hamellr:

Yeah, unfortunately that comes up A LOT in my search, although one of the main reasons is that the skills are pretty much non-transferable because it has such narrow focus, so if you want to switch careers you are in trouble. Problem is, even staying in architecture the job prospects aren't that great.

I actually don't have much experience in Green architecture but I am really interested in learning about green design and construction. This is one of the reasons Seattle appeals to me, nature is a big part of the city.

Vinylly:

Yeah, architecture is always hit really hard by recessions, I'm hoping now that things are picking up, the job market opens up. I read that architecture is supposed to be one of the fastest growing profesions in the next couple of years but I think that's only because so many firms downsized during the recession.