According to a new survey of firms in the architecture, engineering and environmental consulting fields, industry leaders rate the performance of the U.S. economy as the biggest challenge they face in the coming year; In late 2007, overall economic performance wasn’t even among the top ten challenges they listed.

By contrast, two years ago top executives said their biggest challenge was finding qualified staff; This year, firm leaders list a lack of talent as the ninth most important challenge they will face in 2010, according to ZweigWhite 2010 AEC Industry Outlook, an annual report based on a survey of top firms in the industry.

Executives forecast that the economy will eclipse other challenges for some time to come, as firms come to grips with increased competition in the industry, their second-most cited challenge.

The report is available here. The executive summary is free.