27 October 2016
2016- n° 280In October 2016, the economic climate improves again in civil engineering Quaterly survey of public works - October 2016
According to the business managers surveyed in October 2016, the economic climate in civil engineering is more favourable.
According to the business managers surveyed in October 2016, the economic climate in civil engineering is more favourable.
Business managers' opinion on their past activity improves
In October 2016, more business managers than in July report an increase in their past activity, whether for the public-sector or the private-sector projects. Henceforth positive, the balances on past activity stand above their long-term average and have returned to the level they had reached at the end of 2011. However, the balance of opinion on expected activities, while staying above its long term average, has slightly declined due to a drop in the balance on expected activity with the public sector.
More obstacles to production
More business managers than in July have felt constraints due to workforce shortage. However, 11% of businesses indicate being hampered because of a workforce shortage, against 14% on long-term average. Concerning order books, the corresponding balance of opinion has improved again, albeit remaining below its long term average.
Expected workforce improves again
The balance of opinion on expected workforce has continued to improve and stands above its long-term average.
tableauTable1 – Public works economic outlook
| Mean* | Jan. 16 | April 16 | July 16 | Oct. 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past activity | –7 | –16 | –24 | –2 | 11 |
| - public-sector project | –13 | –32 | –36 | –18 | 1 |
| - private-sector project | –12 | –9 | –16 | 4 | 13 |
| Expected activity | –15 | –16 | –19 | 1 | –2 |
| - public-sector project | –18 | –27 | –33 | –6 | –13 |
| - private-sector project | –17 | –3 | –15 | 2 | 4 |
| Opinion on order books | –27 | –57 | –57 | –41 | –32 |
| Obstacles to production increase because of workforce shortage (in %) | 14 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 11 |
| Expected workforce | –16 | –23 | –25 | –7 | 3 |
- Note: the balances of opinion by costumer may differ from the balance of the whole, because sometimes the firms don't distinguish public-sector project and private-sector project. * Mean since January 1981
graphiqueGraph1 – Activity tendency in public works
Pour en savoir plus
