Big Civils Firms Show Increase In Workloads

The latest Survey from the Civil Engineering Contractors' Association shows the industry workload trends splitting on size grounds.

Large firms employing 600 or more people reported a positive balance in workloads with +6 per cent of contractors enjoying more work than the previous quarter. A level of 0 represents no change in the amount of work.

Things are getting much worse for smaller companies with workloads falling across the board. Railways and harbours continue to be bright spots but the worst sectors hit are preliminary works, gas, communications, airports and electricity.

Rosemary Beales, CECA director, said: “This survey confirms the poor market situation faced by civil engineering contractors in the current economic climate.

“Although the situation is showing a less steep decline than in the previous survey, the overall picture reinforces the view already held in the industry that there are difficult times ahead.

“The sharp decline in house building has had a heavy impact, primarily on smaller contractors, but now with only harbours and rail actually reporting a positive trend in workload, the impact is being felt across the sector.

“It is essential that the major projects currently proposed are delivered and that a robust programme of investment in infrastructure is maintained. A further steep decline in workload resulting in redundancies will mean a loss of vital skills. Cut back now and construction will cost more as those skills have to be replaced when the market recovers.”