RIBA Future Trends Survey: Outlook Positive but Softening

The RIBA has published its Future Trends Survey results for June 2025.

Architects remain positive about their workloads over the next three months, although optimism has fallen back a little compared to last month. This is due to fewer practices expecting workloads to increase, rather than to more expecting workloads to contract.

The June RIBA Future Workload Index returned a +8 balance figure, a decrease of three balance points compared with May. A positive balance indicates that, overall, practices expect workloads to increase during the next three months.

Twenty-five per cent of practices anticipate an increase in workloads, while 17% expect a decline. Fifty-eight per cent expect workloads to remain stable.

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

Despite the 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 Permanent Staffing Index has become more positive this month, although this contrasts with a fall in the Temporary Staffing Index.

While practices intend to recruit permanent staff over the next three months, average staff levels remain 5% lower than a year ago.

In June, the outlook for small practices (those with 1 to 10 staff) remained positive but fell back slightly. The small practice Workload Index fell by two balance points from +4 in May to +2 in June.

Twenty-one per cent of small practices anticipate an increase in workloads in the next three months, 20% expect a decrease, and 59% anticipate no change.

The outlook for large (51+ staff) and medium-sized practices (11 -50 staff) also dipped slightly, but remains strongly positive, with a combined Workload Index of +24 in June, down from +28 in May. Thirty-five per cent expect workload growth, 10% anticipate contraction, and 55% expect no change.

The regional outlook remains positive in all areas, although optimism has softened in several regions.

London’s Workload Index, having risen to +17 in May, fell by nine points in June to post a +8 balance in June.

The outlook also softened in the Midlands and East Anglia (falling from +18 in May to +5 in June) and the North of England (from +18 to +5).

Not all regions saw a declining outlook. The Workload Index for Wales and the West rose from +3 in May to reach +17 in June. The South of England also saw an improved outlook with a +3 Index figure this month, up from +1 in May.

After May’s marked uptick in optimism across the sectors, June sees the sectoral outlook moderating overall, but with all sectors retaining a positive outlook for the next three months.

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The private housing sector saw the sharpest reduction in optimism this month, with a +5 Workload Index in June, down from +16 in May.

The outlook for the commercial sector posted a +7 figure, down three points compared with last month.

Workload expectations for the community sector have also softened with a balance figure of +3 in June, compared with +7 in May.

The outlook for the public sector remains steady and in positive territory, with a sector Index of +4 in June, the same as last month.

June sees the profession remain optimistic about future workloads, but optimism is softening somewhat compared with the uptick in outlook seen in May. Current workloads remain below what they were twelve months ago.

Nevertheless, all practice sizes, regions and sectors remain optimistic about future work.

The ongoing improvement in outlook for permanent staff recruitment suggests a benign longer-term outlook, even in a challenging economic background.

This month’s commentary gives a mixed picture. Some practices describe an improving market, with increased enquiries and commissions, particularly for smaller projects, high-end residential, office fit-outs, and within the education sector.

A number of practices note that recruiting qualified staff is becoming increasingly challenging, especially where specialist skills, such as Passivhaus design, are required.

Other practices continue to describe a challenging market with concerns about the strength of the economy. Upward pressures on business and project costs are reported to continue. Practices express concern that increased regulatory requirements are increasing project costs, and delaying project progress. Low fees remain a significant concern for many.

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