Workloads of small and medium-sized builders are continuing to fall but some optimism is starting to return, according to a new report.
The latest Federation of Master Builders (FMB) survey report says 49% of FMB builders reported lower workloads in the second quarter, with just 3% registering an increase, while workloads are expected to fall again in the third quarter.
FMB director-general Richard Diment said the survey shows there is a “massive difference between things getting worse at a slower rate, and things actually getting better”.
However, 23% of respondents had a positive outlook on expected future workloads, while those expecting further declines reduced from 57% to 37%.
By sector, 51% of builders anticipate no change in private new build during the third quarter, while the figure was higher in social new housing (59%), social RMI (57%) and industrial (54%), but the same for private non-residential RMI (51%).
Tough employment conditions are expected to continue, with more jobs being lost by builders in the remaining two quarters. Some 40% of FMB builders had to reduce worker levels in the second quarter, but 67% anticipate no change in the third quarter, indicating firms may now be trying to keep staff to help when recovery materialises.
