Want the ultimate AEC talent recruiting and retention tool?

Enter to win the ONLY award that recognizes your firm's commitment to employee engagement and passion.

2026 EOC

In a tight labor market, architecture and engineering talent chooses you, not the other way around. So how will your firm stand out? How can it be a dream destination for the brightest, most productive, and most passionate?

Most ‘best company to work for’ awards measure superficial levels of employee satisfaction, so winning is easy – and meaningless. Just overpay your staff, over-promise benefits, throw out some freebies, and most importantly, don’t ask too much of them! You might win the award – but at what cost?

PSMJ’s AEC Employer of Choice® award is different. Our unique survey process looks beyond simple satisfaction scores to measure and recognize the most significant metric that proves you have truly satisfied employees… their level of engagement.

With survey questions that dig deep into your employees’ fundamental sense of how they contribute and connect with colleagues, leaders, projects, clients, and missions, the AEC Employer of Choice® award separates high-performing firms from the pack … and gets employees to put forth difference-making discretionary effort to meet your growth objectives.

Even if your firm doesn't win the award,  your entry guarantees you a  full detailed report on your employees' opinions about their work and your workplace. Download a free sample report to see the kind of data you get, just for entering. 

What do we get if we win?

Besides a powerful recruiting tool denoted your firm as one of the most engaging and exciting places to work in the AEC industry, you also get media mentions and PR recognition to let the world know you’ve won! This includes:

  • Extensive visibility and exposure for your firm through our social media, email and PR outreach
  • The right to display the AEC Employer of Choice® award winner logo on proposals, job posts, your website, email signatures and so much more
  • A handsome award winner plaque to proudly show off your achievement
  • Recognition as an award winner at PSMJ’s AEC THRIVE executive conference

Even if you don't win the AEC Employer of Choice® award this year, you still benefit. You'll receive a complimentary, confidential, and custom report on employee responses - giving you a clear picture of where you can improve workplace practices in time for the 2027 awards.

2026 AEC Employer of Choice® award entries are now open!
Deadline to enter is May 26, 2026

 

Awards will be presented at the AEC THRIVE conference October 21-23, 2026, in Scottsdale, AZ.

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