Confidence among architects about future workloads has turned the corner after 10 consecutive months of gloom in the industry.
According to the latest Royal Institute of British Architects monthly trade survey the industry workload index is positive (+2) for the first time since June 2023.
This ends the longest spell of gloom since the survey began in 2009.
Over the next three months, 19% of practices expect workloads to increase, 17% expect them to decrease, and 63% expect them to stay the same.
The outlook of small practices (1-10 staff) remains negative but better, rising by 1 point to -1, while the outlook of medium (11+ staff) and large (50+ staff) practices remains optimistic, improving by 5 points, reaching a combined Workload Index figure of +19.
The outlook for the private housing, commercial and community all improved.
Regionally, the picture remained mixed. The workload outlook of practices in the South of England stands out at +24, a 36-point improvement and the first positive figure for the region since March 2023.
The outlook in the North of England remains positive at +11. However, London’s confidence dipped by 3 points to -2, Wales and the West fell by 3 points to -5, and the Midlands & East Anglia dropped 12 points to -15.
RIBA Head of Economic Research and analysis Adrian Malleson said: “The latest future trends data paints a positive picture of growing workloads.
“April’s findings are the most encouraging for some time, and part of a longer-term trend of an improving outlook, despite month-on-month fluctuations.
“Caution is still needed, as workloads are lower than a year ago, with a mixed regional picture and high personal underemployment. However, the vital housing and commercial sectors show early signs of a tentative recovery.
“Some practices also note a strengthening market overall, an uptick in the public housing sector, and the significance of overseas work.”
