Informations Rapides ·
25 April 2023 · n° 108
In April 2023, the opinion of the business managers in civil engineering on their
activity prospects is stable Quaterly survey of public works - April 2023
In April 2023, the business managers in civil engineering are as optimistic as in January about their expected activity for the next three months. However, they hold a more cautious assessment than three month ago regarding the recent evolution of their activity.
- Business manager’s opinion on their expected activity has maintained, the one about their recent activity has deteriorated
- The order books are judged more garnished than in January
- Difficulties due to a lack of manpower have dropped but remain important
- Employment prospects have degraded again but remain favourable
- For further information
In April 2023, the business managers in civil engineering are as optimistic as in January about their expected activity for the next three months. However, they hold a more cautious assessment than three month ago regarding the recent evolution of their activity.
Business manager’s opinion on their expected activity has maintained, the one about their recent activity has deteriorated
In April 2023, business managers are as optimistic as in January regarding their incoming activity for the next three months: the corresponding balance of opinion has maintained right above its long term average. Not all companies distinguish the type of customer in their survey responses. Among companies distinguishing it, the balance of opinion about the expected activity with the public sector has slightly dropped and moved away from its long term average. The one regarding the evolution of their expected activity with the private sector has fallen more substantially, almost reaching back its average level.
tableauPublic works economic outlook
| Average* | Jul. 22 | Oct. 22 | Jan. 23 | Apr. 23 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past activity | -5 | 10 | -13 | 7 | -2 |
| - public-sector project | -11 | -2 | -20 | -10 | -13 |
| - private-sector project | -8 | 0 | -8 | 0 | -1 |
| Expected activity | -12 | -23 | 0 | -11 | -11 |
| - public-sector project | -16 | -23 | -13 | -17 | -21 |
| - private-sector project | -14 | -22 | -8 | -3 | -13 |
| Opinion on order books | -24 | -11 | -10 | -18 | -12 |
| Obstacles to production increase because of workforce shortage (in %) | 18 | 41 | 50 | 45 | 41 |
| Expected workforce | -12 | -5 | 15 | 9 | 4 |
| Economic uncertainty felt** | 26 | 34 | 36 | 26 | 25 |
- Note: the balances of opinion by custumer may differ from the balance of the whole, because sometimes the firms don't distinguish public-sector project and private-sector project.
- * Average since January 1981 and since April 2021 for the balances of opinion on the economic uncertainty felt.
- ** Non-seasonally adjusted balance of opinion
- Source: INSEE and FNTP
tableauActivity tendency in civil engineering
| Past activity | Expected activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-Q2 | -2.2 | -11.2 |
| 2023-Q1 | 6.6 | -11.0 |
| 2022-Q4 | -13.0 | -0.2 |
| 2022-Q3 | 9.5 | -22.7 |
| 2022-Q2 | 5.8 | -16.2 |
| 2022-Q1 | -3.4 | 0.0 |
| 2021-Q4 | -11.0 | 11.8 |
| 2021-Q3 | 19.5 | 1.3 |
| 2021-Q2 | -7.2 | -10.2 |
| 2021-Q1 | -7.4 | -19.0 |
| 2020-Q4 | -4.0 | -25.2 |
| 2020-Q3 | -86.5 | 14.3 |
| 2020-Q2 | NaN | NaN |
| 2020-Q1 | 20.6 | -4.0 |
| 2019-Q4 | 23.0 | 13.8 |
| 2019-Q3 | 32.5 | 16.3 |
| 2019-Q2 | 39.1 | 22.0 |
| 2019-Q1 | 34.1 | 26.0 |
| 2018-Q4 | 38.4 | 28.6 |
| 2018-Q3 | 31.5 | 26.3 |
| 2018-Q2 | 29.4 | 32.3 |
| 2018-Q1 | 37.1 | 22.7 |
| 2017-Q4 | 29.3 | 32.5 |
| 2017-Q3 | 37.4 | 27.5 |
| 2017-Q2 | 28.8 | 19.5 |
| 2017-Q1 | 11.6 | 3.3 |
| 2016-Q4 | 9.4 | -5.5 |
| 2016-Q3 | -5.6 | -1.0 |
| 2016-Q2 | -16.8 | -15.4 |
| 2016-Q1 | -18.5 | -15.6 |
| 2015-Q4 | -37.5 | -15.0 |
| 2015-Q3 | -41.0 | -31.7 |
| 2015-Q2 | -50.2 | -43.5 |
| 2015-Q1 | -59.9 | -42.3 |
| 2014-Q4 | -60.3 | -54.5 |
| 2014-Q3 | -45.6 | -48.4 |
| 2014-Q2 | 4.2 | -30.4 |
| 2014-Q1 | -4.2 | -25.6 |
| 2013-Q4 | 3.3 | -15.6 |
| 2013-Q3 | -7.4 | -11.9 |
| 2013-Q2 | -18.4 | -13.5 |
| 2013-Q1 | -11.3 | -13.3 |
| 2012-Q4 | -9.8 | -26.5 |
| 2012-Q3 | -22.6 | -7.6 |
| 2012-Q2 | -12.9 | -6.8 |
| 2012-Q1 | 7.0 | -12.4 |
| 2011-Q4 | 8.6 | -4.3 |
| 2011-Q3 | 26.5 | 0.1 |
| 2011-Q2 | 36.8 | 2.3 |
| 2011-Q1 | -32.5 | 0.0 |
| 2010-Q4 | -7.9 | -17.9 |
| 2010-Q3 | -15.9 | -23.9 |
| 2010-Q2 | -33.7 | -20.5 |
| 2010-Q1 | -23.1 | -16.7 |
| 2009-Q4 | -33.3 | -16.1 |
| 2009-Q3 | -50.5 | -34.0 |
| 2009-Q2 | -48.8 | -52.0 |
| 2009-Q1 | -55.3 | -50.6 |
| 2008-Q4 | -30.5 | -47.6 |
| 2008-Q3 | -10.8 | -26.0 |
| 2008-Q2 | 16.3 | -16.0 |
| 2008-Q1 | 20.1 | 2.7 |
| 2007-Q4 | 22.8 | 14.6 |
| 2007-Q3 | 36.2 | 13.9 |
| 2007-Q2 | 39.7 | 21.5 |
| 2007-Q1 | 39.0 | 16.9 |
- Data for the second quarter of 2020 are not available, the response rate to this survey was greatly affected in April in the context of the health crisis.
graphiqueActivity tendency in civil engineering
- Data for the second quarter of 2020 are not available, the response rate to this survey was greatly affected in April in the context of the health crisis.
- Sources: FNTP and INSEE.
In April 2023, business manager’s opinion on the evolution of their activity over the past three months has deteriorated. The corresponding balance of opinion has dropped and has almost come back to its long term average. This drop concerns both the private and public sector.
Additionally, the economic uncertainty felt by business managers is almost stable, at a level close to its average.
The order books are judged more garnished than in January
In April 2023, more business managers than in January have reported the level of their order book to be higher than average. The corresponding balance of opinion has rebounded and remains above its long term average.
Difficulties due to a lack of manpower have dropped but remain important
In April 2023, difficulties due to a lack of manpower are less mentioned than in January: 41% of companies have reported some, a proportion that has kept on dropping for two quarters but still stands way above its long term average.
Employment prospects have degraded again but remain favourable
In April 2023, fewer business managers than in January have reported that they plan to increase their workforce over the next three months. The corresponding balance has kept falling since October 2022. It remains nonetheless clearly above its long-term average.
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.
The responses to this survey have been collected between 22 March 2023 and 6 April 2023.
Next issue: 25 July 2023 at 12:00 pm
Documentation
Abbreviated methodology (pdf,123 Ko)
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.
The responses to this survey have been collected between 22 March 2023 and 6 April 2023.
Next issue: 25 July 2023 at 12:00 pm