RIBA Publishes Future Trends Survey 2025

Halfway into the year, RIBA Future Trends surveys conducted monthly shows that architects are optimistic about their workloads. These surveys monitor the employment and business trends affecting the architectural profession, based on a representative sample of the range of different practice sizea and geographical locations.

The June RIBA Future Workload Index returned a +8 balance figure, indicating an expectation of growing workloads. 25% of architects anticipate an increase, 17% expect a decrease, and 58% expect anticipate no change. This is a decrease of three balance points compared with May, but still remains strong.

Although optimism has moderated in this month, all regions continue to expect workloads to grow, and all sectors are positive about future work.

The outlook for the commercial sector has remained positive since February. In June it posted a +7 figure, down three points compared with May.

Despite the architects profession having had a positive outlook for future work for five months, current workloads remain lower than a year ago. The average practice workload has decreased by 8% over the past twelve months.

The RIBA Future Trends Permanent Staffing Index stands at +9 indicating that, on balance, practices intend to recruit additional staff in the coming three months. However, while practices intend to recruit permanent staff over the next three months, average staff levels remain 5% lower than a year ago.

The Temporary Staffing Index also remains positive, on balance, though falling back from May +17 figure to +2 in June.

For more information visit: www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/riba-future-trends-survey-2025