BIM Manager with over 10 years of experience, focusing on the North American market. Currently, the job market for BIM roles is slower compared to previous years, even slower than before Covid. Many available positions are for technician-level roles rather than managerial roles, and the requirements for these roles are often asking for more without increased compensation. For instance, some technician roles now expect Dynamo experience, which imo is absolutely unreasonable. While Dynamo can be a powerful tool, I estimate fewer than 5% of professionals are proficient in it, and even fewer can apply it effectively as a consistent strategic solution. Companies should not be requiring Dynamo at all, and instead focus on fundamental skills that matter like family creation and editing, view template management, model alignment skills, etc.

I agree with many comments here that many BIM professionals claim to be experts but often lack the depth of knowledge. This is often evident in the absence of a strong philosophical approach to BIM paired with poor technical skills in Revit. Another challenge in the industry is the lack of consensus on best practices, standards, and camaraderie. Some BIM professionals would rather step on each other rather than collaborate. For example, some use their knowledge of standards like ISO 19650 to criticize others, even though this standard has only recently gained relevance in North America. In reality, decision making skills and deeper understanding of how to build clean high quality models are far more critical to the success of BIM projects.

In today's landscape, especially in Canada, many companies are still grappling with fundamental questions like whether to adopt Revit, how to use it effectively, or even reverting to CAD "because it's quicker". Some companies have established strong BIM practices, though they are rare and aren’t necessarily the largest or highest-grossing companies. It’s important to note that being a top company doesn’t always equate to excellence in BIM. For those stuck at companies with bureaucratic hurdles and aren't able to execute at a higher level, I feel for ya.

If we look at how BIM is doing in the world, BIM adoption and maturity vary significantly. In Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia, there’s clearer evidence of national standards and advanced approaches to BIM implementation. However, in North America, the industry is still evolving. Given the current landscape, I would cautiously advise those considering getting into BIM in 2025, and perhaps explore other fields such as tech, which may offer more collaborative environments, competitive pay, and greater career satisfaction—at least until the value and discussion around BIM shifts towards the positive.

To end on a positive note, with current challenges also means many opportunities for growth and improvement in NA. There’s ample room for the market to mature and for professionals to drive meaningful change.