26 April 2019
2019- n° 109In April 2019, small building firms remain upbeat about the general business outlook
of the sector Quarterly survey of the building crafts sector - April 2019
In April 2019, more business managers of small building firms than in January 2019 have indicated an increase in their past activity. The corresponding balance of opinion has recovered but remains below its long-term average. By contrast, the balance on expected activity has slipped back after a slight increase in January 2019 and stands a shade above its long-term average.
However, building craftsmen’s optimism about the general business outlook in the building sector has strengthened: the corresponding balance, already above its long-term average in January, has bounced back significantly after four consecutive quarters of decline.
Craftsmen’s opinion on their past activity improves
In April 2019, more business managers of small building firms than in January 2019 have indicated an increase in their past activity. The corresponding balance of opinion has recovered but remains below its long-term average. By contrast, the balance on expected activity has slipped back after a slight increase in January 2019 and stands a shade above its long-term average.
However, building craftsmen’s optimism about the general business outlook in the building sector has strengthened: the corresponding balance, already above its long-term average in January, has bounced back significantly after four consecutive quarters of decline.
More craftsmen report a recent increase in their staff size
The balance of opinion on development of staff size over the last three months has recovered sharply and has returned to its long-term average.
Conversely, slightly fewer business craftsmen than in January 2019 plan to increase their staff size over the next few months.The corresponding balance has edged down while remaining above its long-term average.
Slightly more than half of small building firms face difficulties in recruiting staff
In April 2019, 54% of small building firms have experienced recruiting problems – a share slightly on the rise and that has reached its highest level since July 2008, significantly higher than the long-term average. At the same time, 37% of building craftsmen have indicated training apprentices. This share has been hovering slightly below its long-term average since July 2018.
tableauBuilding crafts sector economic outlook
| Mean* | July 18 | Oct. 18 | Jan. 19 | Apr. 19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past activity | -5 | 6 | -5 | -12 | -7 |
| Expected activity | -9 | 4 | -6 | -3 | -8 |
| General business outlook | -19 | 5 | -3 | -5 | 4 |
| Past employment | -4 | -1 | -1 | -8 | -4 |
| Expected employment | -4 | 6 | -2 | 2 | 0 |
| Recruiting problems (in %) | 41 | 51 | 49 | 53 | 54 |
| Apprentice training (in %) | 38 | 37 | 36 | 36 | 37 |
- * Mean since October 1990.
- Source: French business survey, building crafts sector - INSEE
tableauGraph 1 – Activity tendency in the building crafts sector
| Expected activity (three months advanced) | Past activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 1998-Q1 | -17.4 | -2.2 |
| 1998-Q2 | -0.2 | 7.9 |
| 1998-Q3 | 4.0 | 14.1 |
| 1998-Q4 | 3.7 | 11.6 |
| 1999-Q1 | 2.6 | 11.2 |
| 1999-Q2 | 9.4 | 15.6 |
| 1999-Q3 | 9.8 | 16.4 |
| 1999-Q4 | 18.6 | 24.6 |
| 2000-Q1 | 31.5 | 35.0 |
| 2000-Q2 | 26.3 | 39.0 |
| 2000-Q3 | 27.5 | 41.1 |
| 2000-Q4 | 22.3 | 30.5 |
| 2001-Q1 | 25.8 | 33.2 |
| 2001-Q2 | 5.7 | 17.4 |
| 2001-Q3 | 1.2 | 7.4 |
| 2001-Q4 | 2.5 | 9.8 |
| 2002-Q1 | -2.4 | 3.9 |
| 2002-Q2 | 2.5 | 7.4 |
| 2002-Q3 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
| 2002-Q4 | 2.6 | 0.3 |
| 2003-Q1 | -5.2 | -1.2 |
| 2003-Q2 | -5.8 | -6.1 |
| 2003-Q3 | -0.5 | -4.4 |
| 2003-Q4 | -4.6 | -7.0 |
| 2004-Q1 | 4.6 | 0.4 |
| 2004-Q2 | 2.8 | 2.7 |
| 2004-Q3 | 1.2 | -1.2 |
| 2004-Q4 | 0.1 | 1.6 |
| 2005-Q1 | 1.5 | -0.9 |
| 2005-Q2 | -0.6 | -1.3 |
| 2005-Q3 | -0.1 | 3.4 |
| 2005-Q4 | 5.0 | 6.6 |
| 2006-Q1 | 4.3 | 3.9 |
| 2006-Q2 | 9.0 | 4.7 |
| 2006-Q3 | 5.8 | 3.5 |
| 2006-Q4 | 8.0 | 5.2 |
| 2007-Q1 | 4.7 | 6.9 |
| 2007-Q2 | 1.5 | 2.7 |
| 2007-Q3 | 5.5 | 6.1 |
| 2007-Q4 | 5.1 | -2.8 |
| 2008-Q1 | 12.8 | -7.3 |
| 2008-Q2 | -8.8 | -11.9 |
| 2008-Q3 | -14.3 | -16.0 |
| 2008-Q4 | -35.2 | -24.2 |
| 2009-Q1 | -36.8 | -34.5 |
| 2009-Q2 | -25.7 | -15.6 |
| 2009-Q3 | -30.2 | -29.4 |
| 2009-Q4 | -21.0 | -21.9 |
| 2010-Q1 | -17.5 | -20.2 |
| 2010-Q2 | -18.9 | -21.4 |
| 2010-Q3 | -14.4 | -18.6 |
| 2010-Q4 | -6.4 | -9.5 |
| 2011-Q1 | -8.8 | -15.5 |
| 2011-Q2 | -6.9 | -6.4 |
| 2011-Q3 | -11.0 | -9.3 |
| 2011-Q4 | -18.2 | -14.0 |
| 2012-Q1 | -23.3 | -11.2 |
| 2012-Q2 | -20.7 | -15.8 |
| 2012-Q3 | -24.5 | -17.6 |
| 2012-Q4 | -40.5 | -26.2 |
| 2013-Q1 | -25.6 | -23.8 |
| 2013-Q2 | -31.3 | -28.6 |
| 2013-Q3 | -26.4 | -27.2 |
| 2013-Q4 | -26.1 | -24.8 |
| 2014-Q1 | -28.8 | -24.4 |
| 2014-Q2 | -25.9 | -24.6 |
| 2014-Q3 | -26.8 | -29.0 |
| 2014-Q4 | -36.2 | -25.9 |
| 2015-Q1 | -32.0 | -28.0 |
| 2015-Q2 | -31.0 | -32.8 |
| 2015-Q3 | -18.9 | -11.7 |
| 2015-Q4 | -20.1 | -21.4 |
| 2016-Q1 | -14.8 | -7.7 |
| 2016-Q2 | -18.3 | -18.6 |
| 2016-Q3 | -4.7 | -8.3 |
| 2016-Q4 | -11.7 | -8.1 |
| 2017-Q1 | 0.7 | -1.8 |
| 2017-Q2 | -4.0 | -2.6 |
| 2017-Q3 | -0.6 | 5.7 |
| 2017-Q4 | -0.6 | -6.4 |
| 2018-Q1 | 14.0 | 7.7 |
| 2018-Q2 | -4.8 | 2.6 |
| 2018-Q3 | 4.2 | 5.9 |
| 2018-Q4 | -6.5 | -4.6 |
| 2019-Q1 | -2.7 | -11.7 |
| 2019-Q2 | -7.8 | -7.1 |
graphiqueGraph 1 – Activity tendency in the building crafts sector
- Source: INSEE.
For further information
A balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the percentage of “increase” responses and the percentage of “decrease” responses.
Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab of this page.
Next issue: 26 July 2019 at 12:00 am
Pour en savoir plus
A balance of opinion is calculated as the difference between the percentage of “increase” responses and the percentage of “decrease” responses.
Additional information (simplified and detailed methodology, nomenclature, etc.) is available on the “Documentation” tab of this page.
Next issue: 26 July 2019 at 12:00 am
