RIBA Future Trends Survey: Architects Remain Optimistic About Future Workloads

The RIBA has published its Future Trends Survey results for September 2026.

The RIBA Workload Index held steady at +1 in September, unchanged from August. A positive balance indicates that practices expect workloads to increase over the next three months, on balance.

The profession remains optimistic about the near-term future, but only by the slimmest of margins.

Twenty-four per cent of practices anticipate increasing workloads, while 23% expect workloads to decline. The remaining 53% expect workloads to remain steady. All figures are the same as August.

The difference in outlook by practice size continues. Small-sized practices remain slightly pessimistic, while medium- and large-sized practices continue to expect workload growth.

The regional picture is mixed, with confidence recovering in London and in the Midlands and East Anglia, while the outlook in the South of England has deteriorated markedly.

The sectoral outlook remains mixed but subdued overall. In the context of a weak housing market, the Private Housing sector continues to perform poorly. The Commercial sector remains marginally positive, while workload expectations for the Public sector are neutral. The outlook for the Community sector remains negative and has weakened.

This month, practices report workloads 9% lower than a year ago, on average, with smallsized practices reporting a larger percentage fall than medium- and large-sized ones.

Staffing expectations have improved, perhaps suggesting greater levels of optimism for the longer term. Both the permanent and temporary staffing indices have returned to positive territory, although current staffing levels remain 5% below those reported twelve months ago.

Workload expectations by practice size

Small practices (1-10 staff) remain slightly pessimistic about future workloads, with a Workload Index of -2 in September, up from -5 in August. Twenty-one per cent expect workloads to increase over the next three months, while 23% anticipate a decline. The majority, 55%, expect no change.

Medium and large-sized practices, those with more than 11 staff, returned a Workload Index of +19, down from +29 in August. Their outlook continues to moderate from a recent high of +49 in July.

The regional outlook

The regional picture remains mixed, with some regions showing marked changes in outlook.

London has staged a strong recovery, with a Workload Index of +9, up from last month’s -10. The Midlands and East Anglia has also strengthened, rising from +2 to +5.

Wales and the West continues to be the most positive of the regions, with a Workload Index of +11, although this is down when compared with August’s +19 figure.

The North of England remains marginally negative at -1, although this is an improved outlook when compared with August’s -10 figure.

The South of England is the weakest region this month, falling markedly from -1 to -17

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Workload expectations by sector

Private Housing remains the weakest major sector, with a Workload Index of -5, unchanged from August. All regions take a negative or neutral view of future workloads in the sector, although medium and large practices are positive about future work, while small practices are firmly pessimistic.

The Commercial sector remains marginally positive, posting a +2 balance, compared with +3 in August. The North of England has the most positive outlook for the sector.

The Public sector records a zero balance, indicating expectations of broadly steady workloads. The North of England and the Midlands and East Anglia are positive about future public sector work, as are medium- and large-sized practices.

The outlook for the Community sector has weakened, falling from -1 in August to -4 in September.

Commentary

September’s Future Trends findings suggest a stabilisation of outlook rather than a sustained recovery. The Workload Index remains positive, but only marginally, and is unchanged from August.

Practices continue to report workloads being below the level of a year ago.

The confidence gap between smaller and larger practices continues, although there are early signs that it is narrowing, with smaller practices becoming less pessimistic and larger practices less optimistic.

The improvement in staffing expectations provides some grounds for longer-term optimism. Both staffing indices have moved back into positive territory, suggesting that practices are, on balance, anticipating a need for increased staffing levels.

Commentary from practices continues to describe challenges throughout the pipeline of work. Practices describe low levels of enquiries, difficulty converting enquiries into commissions, and, once commissions have been won, delays to project progress due to planning delays and client hesitancy.

At the same time, cost pressures are increasing as energy costs spike. Practices report rising project and material costs, which, in turn, deter potential clients from committing to projects.

For smaller practices especially, workload uncertainty is affecting fee income, cash flow and suppressing staff recruitment. Many (but not all) describe a housing market that remains very weak.

Competition continues to be intense, both from within and outside the profession. Some clients are seeking fee reductions, while practices are expected to absorb increased costs. RIBA is beginning to receive comments that clients are expecting AI to reduce the cost of architectural services.

However, in line with the positive Workload Index, some practices give a more upbeat assessment of the market. There are reports of steady work from repeat clients and improving enquiry levels. Among smaller practices, some describe a strong private housing market, and an ongoing demand for domestic alterations, refurbishment and interior design work. Others describe a growing number of opportunities in the infrastructure, affordable housing and healthcare sectors.

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