Informations Rapides · 24 April 2026 · n° 103

In April 2026, the business climate has sharply deteriorated in the civil engineering sector  Quaterly survey of public works - April 2026

In April 2026, civil engineering business managers’ opinion on their past activity has deteriorated again and has moved away from its average level. Their opinion regarding their past activity has also fallen back sharply and reached a level not seen since October 2015 (including the COVID-19 pandemic). The surveyed contractors judge once again their order books to be more depleted than in the previous quarter. They were also more pessimistic about the evolution of their workforce size, the corresponding balance has also reached its lowest level in ten years, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

In April 2026, entrepreneurs’ opinion on their activity over the past three months has decreased very sharply: the balance of opinion has markedly moved away from its long-term average and reached a level not seen since October 2015 (excluding the COVID-19 pandemic). Among the entrepreneurs distinguishing their type of clientele (private or public), both balances have strongly decreased again, even more sharply among public clients. Both have deviated from their long-term average.

Regarding expected activity over the next three months, business managers are again markedly more pessimistic than in the previous quarter: the corresponding balance of opinion has moved further away from its long-term average and remains at levels not seen since 2015 (excluding the COVID 19 pandemic). For those distinguishing their type of clientele, the balance of opinion relating to public clients has decreased strongly again, moving away from its long-term average; it continues its steady decline that began in October 2024. The balance relating to private clients has declined to a lesser extent, also moving away from its own.

The balance of opinion on economic uncertainty felt by entrepreneurs has increased and stands at its highest level since April 2022 (series beginning in April 2021).

In April 2026, the balance of opinion relating to the level of order books of business managers in the sector has decreased again, for all contractors as well as for those who distinguish between their type of clientele (public or private). All these balances have moved away from their long-term average.

The balance of opinion on payment delays has rebounded slightly this quarter, but remains below its long-term average.

In April 2026, the balance of opinion regarding the evolution of the workforce size over the next three months has markedly decreased. It has reached its lowest level observed since April 2016 (including the COVID-19 pandemic).

In April 2026, the share of companies reporting that they are facing demand constraints has increased: at 53%, it stands well above its long-term average and has reached the highest level observed since October 2016 (including the COVID 19 pandemic). 21% of companies report difficulties linked to a lack of manpower: this proportion has decreased sharply and has moved closer to its long-term average.