Workload confidence dips as smaller practices report growing strain, says RIBA

By Ben Flatman2025-10-24T12:05:00

September 2025 RIBA Future Trends survey finds overall confidence slipping into negative territory for the first time since January, with smaller practices hit hardest by a subdued residential sector

RIBA’s latest Future Trends report shows a decline in architects’ workload confidence, as economic uncertainty and weak client demand weigh on the profession.

The September 2025 Future Workload Index fell to -2, the first negative reading since January, reflecting a slight increase in pessimism compared with previous months. While 21% of practices expect workloads to rise over the next three months, 23% predict a decrease and 56% anticipate no change.

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Workload confidence dips as smaller practices report growing strain, says RIBA

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