RIBA monthly survey also shows increasing pessimism over staffing levels

Nearly a third of architects expect their workload to drop in a July survey by the RIBA - a figure 3% worse than June.

The survey found 30% of practice expect a further decline in the volume of work, compared to just 6% of practices anticipating an increase in workload.

Adrian Dobson, RIBA director of practice, said he thought architects鈥� perception of their industry was the result of a 鈥渟ignificant impact from public sector capital spending cuts鈥�. He said: 鈥淪maller practices report that it remains very challenging for them to overcome obstacles to access to public sector procurement programmes in general.鈥�

The survey also quizzed architects on their predictions for staffing levels with 3% more expecting staffing to decrease rather than increase. 12% of architects thought the number of workers at their practices was due to drop (compared to 11% in June), and nine per cent believed staff numbers were set to rise (up from 8%).

Dobson said he felt the survey results reflected that employment prospects for architects were 鈥渦nlikely鈥� to experience 鈥渁ny significant short-term improvement鈥�.

Dobson also said the feedback he received from architects highlighted the 鈥渋ntense fee competition鈥� between practices. He said: 鈥淚n their anecdotal comments, our practices continue to report intense fee competition with consequent continuing downward pressure on profit and salary levels.鈥�

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