Architecture and engineering executives painted a grim employment picture in 2009 for the sector, according to a new survey by Natick architecture and construction consulting firm ZweigWhite.

The survey conducted by The Zweig Letter, found firm leaders reported that job losses in 2009 affected everyone, from highly qualified professionals to support staff.

According to the results of the survey conducted in the first week of January, some firms lost up to 50 percent of their staffs in 2009 – and some ultimately failed.

"We reduced our staff around 33 percent in 2009," one respondent said. "We might make further cuts."

According to the online survey of 43 firm leaders, 72 percent of respondents said their firms lost both professional and support staff in 2009, and 35 percent said they are considering additional staff cuts.

"We had two layoffs in 2009. It only affected about 6 percent of our staff, but it could have and probably should have affected more. We remain on guard for 2010," said Mike Ritchie, president and CEO of Photo Science Inc. of Lexington, Ky.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Monthly Labor Review report for November, the industry lost roughly 115,000 jobs between November 2008 and November 2009.

Seasonally adjusted report numbers show more than 1.3 million people were employed by architectural and engineering services in November, compared to more than 1.4 million in November 2008. At its peak in April 2008, employment in the industry was 1.451 million. The November 2009 number represents the lowest employment for the industry since 2005, according to ZweigWhite.