The June 2024 RIBA Futre Trends Survey report reveals that architects expect growth in workload to rise in the next three months, alongside a notable increase in practice staff recruitment, suggesting that practices are gearing up for sustained growth.
Workload Expectations
In June, the RIBA Future Trends Workload Index dipped slightly by 2 points to +4, yet architects overall still foresee increased workloads.
– 23% of practices anticipate workload growth.
– 19% predict a decrease.
– 58% expect no change.
Small practices (1-10 staff) saw a slight improvement, with their Workload Index at +4. Medium (11+ staff) and large (50+ staff) practices remain optimistic at +11, despite a 19-point drop from the previous month.
Regionally, the outlook is generally positive, though London (-3) and Wales and the West (0) saw slight declines. The North of England (+15) and the South of England (+2) remain positive but experienced decreases, while the Midlands and East Anglia (+10) showed growing confidence.
Sector-wise, the outlook for the Commercial sector (+5) improved, with London and the North of England being the most hopeful. The Private Housing sector (-1) saw a 4-point improvement, while the Public sector (-5) remained steady, and the Community sector (-5) declined by 3 points.
Recruitment Trends
The RIBA Future Trends Permanent Staffing Index rose by 6 points to +6 in June, indicating a higher intention among practices to increase permanent staff, reaching the highest level in over two years.
– 13% of practices plan to hire more permanent staff.
– 7% expect to reduce staff.
– 80% foresee no change.
All practice sizes anticipate increased permanent staffing, particularly medium and large practices. The regional staffing outlook is positive across London (+5), Wales and the West (+11), the South of England (+7), and the North of England (+3), with only the Midlands and East Anglia expecting no change. Conversely, the Temporary Staffing Index fell by 3 points to -1, suggesting a shift towards permanent hires.
Market Sentiment
RIBA Head of Economic Research and Analysis Adrian Malleson notes a positive outlook for the profession for the third consecutive month, marking a recovery from the negative trends of late 2023 and early 2024. However, the recovery is cautious, and some practices remain pessimistic.
Factors such as the planning system continue to impact workloads, though there are signs of improvement in planning application progression for some. The general election has introduced both a sense of change and uncertainty.
RIBA will continue to monitor and report these trends to the Government and collaborate with other built environment bodies.
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