State of the Building Safety Industry Report Provides a Glimpse of the Future of Building Safety

The International Code Council recently released the results of its State of the Building Safety Industry Report: Envisioning the Future, a crucial study conducted to assess the current landscape of the building safety profession. Available exclusively to Code Council members (accessible via the Members-Only Library), the report provides a snapshot of the industry as it stands today and the trends that are moving it forward, including new insights on compensation, career satisfaction, challenges and future opportunities.

More than 4,800 building safety professionals participated in the survey, representing a broad spectrum of disciplines across the industry. The survey included responses from both Code Council members and non-members, ensuring inclusive representation.

Roughly two-fifths (39.3 percent) of respondents specialize in building safety and more than a quarter (26.4 percent) work in AEC (architecture, engineering or construction). Almost one in 10 (9.4 percent) specialize in fire safety, and nearly as many (8.9 percent) work in the area of plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, swimming pools and spas.

Most participants are Baby Boomers (36.9 percent) or Gen X (41.9 percent), but Millennials (18.3 percent) make up a significant portion as well. More than one in 10 (14 percent) are U.S. Military veterans, active duty or have a family member who has served. Virtually all respondents (96.2 percent) live in the United States, with all 50 states represented in the responses.

The Challenges of Building Safety

The wide-ranging State of the Building Safety Industry Report explores job satisfaction as well as the obstacles building safety professionals face, both internally and externally. Among the top challenges identified were the increased cost of materials, complexity of modern construction and concerns about the number of people entering the field.

While many building safety professionals are dedicated to preparing future generations for a career in building safety, the demand for qualified new recruits remains high. This trend is reflected in revealing statistics about the pace of hiring and current departmental staffing capacity.

In addition to career satisfaction, respondents identified opportunities for advancement in the field, insight on the background of prospective candidates and the effect of economic/pandemic changes on retirement strategies.

When asked “How confident are you that you are providing high quality service to your clients?”, the answer provided telling information on how building safety professionals approach their jobs.

The in-depth report also reveals an evolving profession as fluctuations in workload, responsibilities, funding, staffing and more impact the world of building safety.

Building a Dynamic Work Environment

Some of the most interesting findings of the report involve the factors building safety professionals value most when considering a job. Five years after a global pandemic literally changed the world overnight, respondents report a surprising return to a traditional work environment.

The report also includes valuable insights into the importance of continuing education assistance, work schedule patterns, work-life balance, personal and family benefits, job location and paid time off. It also addresses financial considerations such as retirement plans, yearly or signing bonuses and malpractice insurance.

The report identifies the importance of salary among numerous other benefits, as well as the salary range among those who responded. Code Council members can peruse the full report to find out where their salaries fit into the range, and how this compares to the national average salary in the United States.

Read The Full Report Now

The State of the Building Safety Industry Report: Envisioning the Future is an essential read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of the field, how people rate their career and for those who want a snapshot of the future of building safety.

To read the full report, either log into your membership through myICC, or become a Code Council member and take advantage of the many benefits that membership provides, including access to exclusive tools; expert advice; discounts on credentialing, code books and training programs and more.

Members: https://www.iccsafe.org/membership/state-of-the-industry-report/ (requires myICC login)

Non-members:  https://www.iccsafe.org/content/non-member-state-of-the-industry-report/