In July, the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index held steady, returning a balance figure of +4. On balance, architects remain confident about future workloads.
Twenty-two cent of practices expect workloads to increase in the coming three months, whilst sixty-one per cent expect them to remain the same. Eighteen per cent of practices expect workloads to decrease.
In summary:
- In July the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index held steady, returning the same balance figure as in June, +4.
- Over the next three months, 22% of practices expect workloads to increase, whilst 61% expect them to remain the same and 18% expect a decline.
- Architects expect workloads to fall across all sectors apart from the commercial sector, which returned a balance figure of +1, up from –2 in June. Private Housing, which had been in positive territory since June 2020, has fallen to a balance figure of 0.
- Small practices (1 – 10 staff) posted a positive balance of +2 in July, a recovery of 3 points on June’s figure of -1. Large and medium-sized practices (11+ staff) remain positive about future workload, returning a balance figure of +20
- In July, the RIBA Future Trends Permanent Staffing Index returned a balance figure of +2, the same as in June.
- Whilst current workloads are holding up, and personal underemployment remains low confidence for the next 3-6 months is wavering as concerns around the economy and inflation grow.
Please find the July 2022 Future Trends report here
