Informations Rapides ·
29 April 2025 · n° 107
In April 2025, civil engineering business manager’s opinion on their expected activity
has improved slightly Quaterly survey of public works - April 2025
In April 2025, civil engineering business managers are slightly more optimistic than in January regarding their expected activity over the next three months, and even more so when it comes to the expected evolution of their workforce size. However, they consider their order books to be less garnished.
In April 2025, civil engineering business managers are slightly more optimistic than in January regarding their expected activity over the next three months, and even more so when it comes to the expected evolution of their workforce size. However, they consider their order books to be less garnished.
Business managers’ opinion on their expected activity over the next three months has improved slightly
In April 2025, business managers’ opinion on their expected activity over the next three months has improved slightly: the associated balance of opinion has increased slightly and has returned to its long-term average. Among the entrepreneurs distinguishing their type of clientele, the balance of opinion on expected activity with private clients has sharply increased and now exceeds its average, while it remains virtually stable with public sector clients, below its own.
Regarding past activity, business managers’ opinion remains almost unchanged: the corresponding balance of opinion is stable, above its long-term average. For those distinguishing their type of clientele, the balance of opinion on past activity among private clients has increased, whereas it remains virtually stable among public sector clients.
tableauPublic works economic outlook
| Average* | Jul. 24 | Oct. 24 | Jan. 25 | Apr. 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past activity | -4 | -21 | -4 | 5 | 5 |
| Past activity in the public-sector | -11 | -27 | -20 | -5 | -6 |
| Past activity in the private-sector | -8 | -22 | -5 | -4 | -1 |
| Expected activity | -11 | -7 | -12 | -13 | -11 |
| Expected activity in the public-sector | -15 | -12 | -15 | -18 | -17 |
| Expected activity in the private-sector | -14 | -7 | -19 | -17 | -11 |
| Opinion on order books | -23 | -17 | -21 | -15 | -19 |
| Paiement delays | 22 | 29 | 27 | 30 | 23 |
| Obstacles to production increase because of workforce shortage (in %) *** | 19 | 33 | 37 | 28 | 36 |
| Obstacles to production increase because of a lack of demand (in %) *** | 36 | 37 | 45 | 42 | 44 |
| Expected workforce | -11 | 8 | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| Economic uncertainty felt ** | 25 | 22 | 27 | 29 | 22 |
- Note: the balances of opinion by customer 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.
- *** Seasonally adjusted percentage of responses.
- Source: INSEE and FNTP.
tableauActivity tendency in civil engineering
| Past activity | Expected activity | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-Q2 | 5.0 | -11.2 |
| 2025-Q1 | 5.1 | -13.0 |
| 2024-Q4 | -4.3 | -12.3 |
| 2024-Q3 | -21.0 | -6.6 |
| 2024-Q2 | 1.0 | -8.2 |
| 2024-Q1 | -1.9 | 0.0 |
| 2023-Q4 | -6.3 | -12.3 |
| 2023-Q3 | -14.0 | -12.6 |
| 2023-Q2 | -6.9 | -9.1 |
| 2023-Q1 | 4.5 | -14.7 |
| 2022-Q4 | -2.7 | -5.1 |
| 2022-Q3 | 5.8 | -16.3 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.4 | -14.3 |
| 2022-Q1 | -5.0 | -3.1 |
| 2021-Q4 | -1.6 | 7.4 |
| 2021-Q3 | 15.9 | 6.8 |
| 2021-Q2 | -11.0 | -8.6 |
| 2021-Q1 | -8.7 | -21.4 |
| 2020-Q4 | 4.3 | -28.9 |
| 2020-Q3 | -90.0 | 18.6 |
| 2020-Q2 | NaN | NaN |
| 2020-Q1 | 19.6 | -5.5 |
| 2019-Q4 | 29.7 | 11.1 |
| 2019-Q3 | 29.6 | 19.2 |
| 2019-Q2 | 37.0 | 22.6 |
| 2019-Q1 | 33.2 | 25.1 |
| 2018-Q4 | 43.4 | 26.9 |
| 2018-Q3 | 29.2 | 28.2 |
| 2018-Q2 | 28.0 | 32.5 |
| 2018-Q1 | 36.8 | 22.3 |
| 2017-Q4 | 32.4 | 31.6 |
| 2017-Q3 | 35.3 | 28.6 |
| 2017-Q2 | 28.2 | 19.4 |
| 2017-Q1 | 12.3 | 3.1 |
| 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.
- Source: FNTP and INSEE.
This quarter, the balance of opinion on economic uncertainty felt by business managers has declined, going back below its long-term average.
Order books are considered less garnished than in January
In April 2025, the balances of opinion relating to the level of order books of business managers in the sector have retreated back, both for all entrepreneurs and for those distinguishing their type of clientele. All those balances remain above their long-term average.
Although the balance of opinion on payment delays have declined this quarter and has moved closer to its long-term average, more entrepreneurs still report an increase rather than a decrease in their clients' payment delays.
Employment prospects have improved
In April 2025, the balance of opinion regarding the evolution of the workforce size over the next three months has rebounded. Its level is markedly above its long-term average.
Difficulties due to a lack of manpower have bounced back
In April 2025, 36% of companies have reported difficulties linked to a lack of manpower. After its sharp decline in the previous quarter, this share has rebounded sharply and continues to hover well above its long-term average. The proportion of companies reporting that they are facing demand constraints has increased slightly: at 44%, it stands 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 21 March and 16 April 2025.
Next issue: 25 July 2025 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 21 March and 16 April 2025.
Next issue: 25 July 2025 at 12:00 pm.