Specialized design services
NAICS Code: 541400
BLS projects Specialized design services to grow +3.8% through 2034 - 1.4 points faster than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 61% of them. Its trajectory is close to the typical U.S. industry.
Where Specialized design services sits among all industries
Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.
Where Specialized design services sits by projected growth
Projected employment change across tracked industries
3.8% Top 39% higher than 61% of 291 industries
Industries, banded by projected growth
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15
Steady-state read
Signature: 47.9% mean employer AI exposure across 89 tracked public companies .
Both projected growth and public-company coverage sit in the middle of the fleet - compare the peer employment table with the company grades to see whether size peers and AI-risk peers tell the same story.
NAICS 541400 · 151,100 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Specialized design services.
Public companies in this NAICS sector
NAICS sector 54 bucket (includes sibling industries). 89 companies scored · mean AI exposure 47.9%.
| Company | AI grade |
|---|---|
| Abm Industries Inc /De/ | C |
| Accenture plc | C |
| ADT Inc. | C |
| Aecom | C |
| AerCap Holdings N.V. | C |
| Air Lease Corp | C |
| Airbnb, Inc. | C |
| Akamai Technologies Inc | C |
Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Specialized design services shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.
Peer Industries by Employment
How Specialized design services (NAICS 541400) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.
| Industry | 2024 | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of optometrists | 154,500 | +7.6% |
| Exterminating and pest control services | 153,500 | +3.3% |
| Electrical equipment manufacturing | 153,000 | +4.4% |
| Specialized design services | 151,100 | +3.8% |
| Ship and boat building | 150,500 | +2.4% |
| Offices of chiropractors | 146,900 | +6.2% |
Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work in Specialized design services?
As of 2024, the Specialized design services industry employs approximately 151,100 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.
Is Specialized design services growing or declining?
The Specialized design services industry is projected to grow by 3.8% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +5,800 jobs over the decade.
Which public companies sit near Specialized design services?
89 tracked public companies in NAICS sector 54 (sibling industries included). Sample names include Abm Industries Inc /De/, Accenture plc, ADT Inc.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.
How will AI affect the Specialized design services industry?
Among 89 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 47.9% (most common grade C). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Specialized design services. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.
Where to look next
What to do with this
Use Specialized design services' employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.
- See how public employers in this and other industries rank nationwide by AI displacement risk. Employer AI risk rankings
- Browse individual occupations to see exposure and wage detail below the industry level. Browse all occupations
- Compare this industry's outlook against a specific occupation or employer using the interactive tool. Workforce comparison tool
Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts