The architecture ranking surprises me a bit, was it a bad choice, say, ten years ago?
Autocad changed everything.
Everyone wants to be an architect. But the truth is, there is not much demand for them. They aren’t really very useful. A structural engineer or an autocad tech can do the job of an architect in most cases.
Most buildings nowdays are built from pre-approved plans. Hardly anyone hires an architect to build a building anymore.
Architects had trouble finding jobs when I got out of school in the early 80’s.
Lots of kids want to do the artsy-fartsy thing.
Not so many people want to pay someone to do the artsy-fartsy thing.
The architecture is highly related to the building boom / bust. Architects typically design NEW buildings. For home remodeling, you typically don’t need an architect but can use a drafter and engineer. Foundation repairs and oil drilling employ engineers no longer working in construction, but architects don’t have that fall back.
Given that somewhere between 50-60 of formerly practicing architects were unemployed in 2009, the number seems low.