The RIBA Future Trends Workload Index was down very slightly this month at +33, with confidence levels amongst our participating practices about the level of future workloads remaining very strong.
This recovery in confidence levels continues to be widespread across the whole of the UK, with Wales and the West topping the leader board in May 2014 with a balance figure of +49.
Similarly, in terms of practice size, small practices (1 – 10 staff) with a balance figure of +31, medium-sized practice (10 – 50 staff) with a balance figure of +57 and large-sized practices (51+ staff) with a balance figure of +20, are all reporting very positive balance figures for workload forecasts.
The private housing sector workload forecast, up to +38 in May 2014 from +33 in April 2014, the public sector workload forecast, up to +6 in May 2014 from +4 in April 2014, and the community sector workload forecast, up to +9 in May 2014 from +5 in April 2014, all increased this month.
The commercial sector workload forecast fell back slightly to +20 from +22 last month, but remains very much in positive territory.
RIBA Director of Practice Adrian Dobson said: “Optimism about future workload increases continues to be driven by the strengthening of the private housing sector and the increase in commercial projects. A number of other specific markets also seem to be performing strongly, including the higher education sector.
"Overall actual workloads are up approximately 10% on a year-on-year comparison basis.”
The RIBA Future Trends Staffing Index fell marginally this month, standing at +7 in May 2014 compared with +8 in April 2014. The great majority of practices (93%) expect their staffing levels to either stay the same or increase during the next quarter, and the Staffing Index remains very positive, as it has for some time.
This increased optimism of the future staffing levels forecast has not yet been realised in terms of a net increase in overall actual staffing numbers, although it is heartening that there has been an annual increase of 11% in the number of Part 1 and Part 2 students being employed by our participating practices.
