RIBA Future Trends Survey Anticipates Slight Decrease in Architects’ Workload

Architects’ outlook for future work weakened further in May, as the RIBA Workload Index fell for a third consecutive month. The fall is largely due to a decrease in the proportion of practices expecting workloads to grow, rather than a large increase in the proportion expecting workloads to contract.

For the month of May, the RIBA workload Index stood at -9, a six-point decline from April’s -3 figure, and a 14-point decline from this year’s high of +5, in February. A negative balance figure indicates that, on balance, practices expect workloads to decrease over the next three months.

Eighteen per cent of practices anticipate an increase in workloads (against 24% last month), while 28% expect a decline. The remaining 54% expect workloads to hold steady.

Confidence has again weakened across practices of all sizes. Smaller practices have seen their outlook slip further into negative territory. Large and medium-sized practices remain optimistic about future workloads, but their outlook has again weakened.

The regional picture reflects the overall weak workload expectations, although some regions have returned to a positive outlook.

The sectoral outlook is similarly subdued, with three of the four monitored sectors expected to see declining future workloads. The commercial sector has turned negative this month, while the private housing sector has fallen further. The public sector has recovered somewhat.

May sees practices report workloads nine per cent lower than a year ago, on average. The outlook for permanent staffing has weakened slightly as the RIBA Staffing Index posts a zero figure, suggesting that steady staff levels are expected overall.

Nine per cent of practices anticipate an increase in permanent staff over the next three months, while the same 9% expect a reduction. The vast bulk of practices, 82%, expect no change.

The RIBA Temporary Staffing Index remains in negative territory but has improved slightly, rising from -3 in April to -2 in May.

For more information read and download the RIBA Future Trends Survey May 2026: https://www.riba.org/work/insights-and-resources/riba-future-trends/riba-future-trends-2026/