Informations Rapides ·
25 July 2025 · n° 187
In July 2025, civil engineering business manager’s opinion on their past activity
has deteriorated sharply Quaterly survey of public works - July 2025
In July 2025, civil engineering business managers’ opinion on their past activity has deteriorated sharply. They consider their order books to be less garnished than in April, but maintain their opinion on future activity.
As usual at this time of the year, the seasonal coefficients have been updated in July 2025. This has led to revisions to all the results previously released for this survey. Those revisions are for the most part relatively minor and do not affect the interpretation of the economic assessment.
In July 2025, civil engineering business managers’ opinion on their past activity has deteriorated sharply. They consider their order books to be less garnished than in April, but maintain their opinion on future activity.
Entrepreneurs’ opinion on their past activity over the past three months has deteriorated sharply
In July 2025, entrepreneurs’ opinion on their past activity over the past three months has markedly deteriorated: the corresponding balance has dropped sharply, returning below its long-term average. Among the entrepreneurs distinguishing their type of clientele (private or public), both balances have deteriorated markedly, with an even sharper decline for private clients.
Regarding expected activity over the next three months, business managers’ opinion remains unchanged: the corresponding balance of opinion is stable, slightly below its long-term average. However, the balances of opinion on expected activity have declined among companies that differentiate their client types (private or public), even more so for private clients; both balances now stand below their respective long-term averages.
tableauPublic works economic outlook
| Average* | Oct. 24 | Jan. 25 | Apr. 25 | Jul. 25 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Past activity | -5 | -3 | 2 | 2 | -10 |
| Past activity in the public-sector | -11 | -17 | -9 | -9 | -18 |
| Past activity in the private-sector | -8 | -6 | -5 | -1 | -18 |
| Expected activity | -11 | -11 | -11 | -12 | -12 |
| Expected activity in the public-sector | -16 | -15 | -16 | -17 | -20 |
| Expected activity in the private-sector | -14 | -16 | -15 | -12 | -18 |
| Opinion on order books | -23 | -20 | -17 | -18 | -24 |
| Opinion on order books from public-sector | -30 | -29 | -28 | -29 | -28 |
| Opinion on order books from private-sector | -27 | -29 | -20 | -23 | -29 |
| Paiement delays | 22 | 27 | 30 | 23 | 12 |
| Obstacles to production increase because of workforce shortage (in %) *** | 19 | 36 | 30 | 33 | 34 |
| Obstacles to production increase because of a lack of demand (in %) *** | 36 | 44 | 44 | 45 | 37 |
| Expected workforce | -11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | -7 |
| Economic uncertainty felt ** | 25 | 27 | 29 | 22 | 24 |
- 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-Q3 | -10.2 | -11.9 |
| 2025-Q2 | 1.9 | -11.6 |
| 2025-Q1 | 1.6 | -11.2 |
| 2024-Q4 | -3.0 | -11.4 |
| 2024-Q3 | -16.4 | -9.1 |
| 2024-Q2 | -1.3 | -8.4 |
| 2024-Q1 | -4.3 | 2.4 |
| 2023-Q4 | -5.4 | -11.8 |
| 2023-Q3 | -11.5 | -15.5 |
| 2023-Q2 | -8.1 | -9.6 |
| 2023-Q1 | 3.4 | -11.5 |
| 2022-Q4 | -2.6 | -5.1 |
| 2022-Q3 | 6.7 | -19.2 |
| 2022-Q2 | 1.4 | -15.0 |
| 2022-Q1 | -4.8 | 0.9 |
| 2021-Q4 | -2.3 | 6.9 |
| 2021-Q3 | 15.4 | 3.9 |
| 2021-Q2 | -10.0 | -9.7 |
| 2021-Q1 | -7.6 | -16.7 |
| 2020-Q4 | 2.7 | -29.6 |
| 2020-Q3 | -90.9 | 15.8 |
| 2020-Q2 | NaN | NaN |
| 2020-Q1 | 21.1 | -0.8 |
| 2019-Q4 | 27.7 | 10.3 |
| 2019-Q3 | 28.7 | 16.7 |
| 2019-Q2 | 38.3 | 21.4 |
| 2019-Q1 | 34.6 | 29.5 |
| 2018-Q4 | 41.5 | 26.0 |
| 2018-Q3 | 28.7 | 26.1 |
| 2018-Q2 | 29.0 | 31.6 |
| 2018-Q1 | 37.8 | 25.7 |
| 2017-Q4 | 31.1 | 30.8 |
| 2017-Q3 | 34.9 | 27.2 |
| 2017-Q2 | 29.0 | 18.8 |
| 2017-Q1 | 12.8 | 5.6 |
| 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.
The balance of opinion on economic uncertainty felt by entrepreneurs has bounced back slightly and now stands just below its long-term average.
Order books are considered significantly less garnished than in April
In July 2025, the balance of opinion relating to the level of order books of business managers in the sector has deteriorated, falling back just below its long-term average. Among those who distinguish their type of clientele, the decline is particularly pronounced for orders from private clients; this balance has dropped back below its average. The balance relating to public-sector clients has improved slightly and remains just above its long-term average for a year.
As in the previous quarter, the balance of opinion on payment delays has strongly decreased, thus moving away from its long-term average.
Employment prospects have sharply deteriorated
In July 2025, the balance of opinion regarding the evolution of the workforce size over the next three months has sharply fallen back, but remains above its long-term average.
Difficulties due to a lack of demand have markedly dropped
In July 2025, the share of companies reporting that they are facing demand constraints has decreased sharply: at 37%, it has almost returned to its long-term average. 34% of companies have reported difficulties linked to a lack of manpower, a nearly stable proportion that continues to hover well 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 26 June and 21 July 2025.
Next issue: 24 October 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 26 June and 21 July 2025.
Next issue: 24 October 2025 at 12:00 pm.