Scottish Construction Sector Out Of Recession?

6th August 2013

A recent survey by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has suggested that the Scottish construction sector may be edging its way out of a 5 year depression. The survey, taking into account responses from its surveyor members throughout the UK has shown that 33% more respondents believe their workloads will increase steadily next year. This comes on the back of an 11% increase in surveyors reporting a jump in workload in the first half of 2013.

The inevitable reduction in survey firms' fees could be about to see a turnaround for the better with profitability within the sector on the rise. Employers within the survey industry predict positions to open up within a sizeable proportion of their businesses leading to a rise in employment in the sector.

With survey firms being a useful barometer as to the health of the construction sector as a whole, does this news herald a rise in the fortunes of Scottish construction? Or do the ever-present financial barriers imposed upon construction businesses (inflation, depressed expectations of rates from clients, a dirth of available funding etc.) suggest that this survey should be taken with a pinch of salt? Watch this space...

Written by Ian Johnson