Confidence in global work prospects for architects has slumped to a five-year low according to Building Design’s WA100 annual survey of world’s biggest practices.

The report, which ranks firms by the numbers of architects employed, reveals that just 55% of practices think the global construction economy will grow over the next 12 months compared to last year’s 72%.

Architects were most positive about work prospects in North America and the Pacific Rim including China, with 78% saying they expect growth in both markets during the next year. Optimism has softened compared to last year, when 92% of architects said they expected growth in North America and 83% in China.

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