26 April 2019

2019- n° 108

In April 2019, business managers in civil engineering remain confident Quaterly survey of public works - April 2019

According to the business managers surveyed in April 2019, the economic climate in civil engineering continues to be very favourable. The civil engineering professionals remain confident: all the balances of opinion stand well above their long-term average.

In April 2019, as many business managers as in January 2019 have indicated an increase in their activity over the last three months. The corresponding balance of opinion is stable overall and largely above its long-term average. This balance of opinion is virtually stable for public sector clients and has recovered slightly for private sector clients. For the next three months, again fewer business managers than in the previous interrogation anticipate an increase in their activity. The corresponding balance has decreased slightly for both types of clients but remains in both cases well above its long-term average. However, more business managers than in January deem that their order books remain well filled; the corresponding balance of opinion has increased again and has reached its highest level since end 2007, far above its long-term average.

In April 2019, the obstacles to production increase due to workforce shortage are much more significant than in January. Indeed, 47% of businesses have indicated being hampered because of workforce shortage against 36% in the previous quarter. While it had declined in the beginning of the year, this share has bounced back in April and has nearly returned to its October 2018 level, largely above its the long-term average (16%).

Slightly more business managers than in January 2019 plan to increase their workforce in the next three months. The corresponding balance, already largely above its long-term average, has slightly recovered after a decline in the previous quarter.