In
April 2019 the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index remained steady at +5,
consistent with the results from the previous month.
In
terms of geographical analysis, practices in London have become more downbeat
about future workloads (balance figure -7), suggesting they feel workloads will
decrease.
Practices
in the Midlands and East Anglia (balance figure +9) and Wales and the West
(balance figure +14) saw a positive sentiment this month, while the North of
England continued its run of optimism, returning a balance of +20.
Analysing
the April 2019 workload forecast data in terms of practice size, medium-sized
practices (11 - 50 staff) remained the most positive, returning a balance
figure of +26, while small (1 - 10 staff) and large practices (51+ staff)
returned balance figures of +3 and zero respectively.
In
terms of different work sectors, the figures remain broadly consistent with the
previous month. However, there has been a general dampening of expectations
across all sectors.
The
private housing sector workload forecast remained at +4, the same point as it
was last month, and the commercial sector slipped back into negative territory
to -1 (from +4). The community sector also dropped into a negative balance
score of -2 (from 0) and the public sector also reverted to -3.
The
RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index showed a slight increase to +4, up from +3,
though the market for architectural services remains subdued.
RIBA
Head of Economic Research and Analysis, Adrian Malleson, said: “The subdued
nature of the market for architectural services is highlighted by the number of
architects reporting that a lack of work over the last month has led to them
being personally underemployed.
“The
lack of clarity around Brexit continues to dominate the narrative participating
practices give about their workload. The tone remains one of frustration as the
ongoing and indeterminate Brexit debate maintains high levels of uncertainty
within the architectural community, as well as the wider construction industry.
“Not
all architects are downbeat however. Some tell us of the strength in the
regions and of the relative resilience of the housing market.”
