Anticipated Workload And Labour Requirements
Members anticipate the falling workloads experienced this quarter to continue at an increased rate of decline over the next three months. Growth in the private sector is not expected to continue and the decline in the public sector is expected to accelerate. It is anticipated that the growth currently being recorded in the private housing repair and maintenance sector will continue but at a much slower rate. In all other categories of work the situation is expected to worsen as workload levels fall further, (Table 12).
Table 12
Actual and Anticipated Workload, 3rd Quarter, 1998 and 4th Quarter 1998.
| |
3rd Q '98 Actual |
4th Q '98 Expected |
| Inc |
Same |
Dec |
% Balance |
Inc |
Same |
Dec |
% Balance |
| New Housing |
|
|
| Private |
23 |
55 |
22 |
+1 |
14 |
60 |
26 |
-12 |
| Public |
7 |
68 |
25 |
-19 |
5 |
64 |
31 |
-26 |
| |
| Other New Work |
|
|
| Private industrial |
14 |
49 |
37 |
-23 |
13 |
48 |
39 |
-26 |
| Private Commercial |
11 |
62 |
27 |
-16 |
14 |
52 |
34 |
-20 |
| Public |
9 |
74 |
17 |
-8 |
13 |
65 |
22 |
-9 |
| |
| Repair & Maintenance |
|
|
| Private housing |
30 |
58 |
12 |
+17 |
20 |
63 |
17 |
+3 |
| Public housing |
12 |
71 |
16 |
-4 |
8 |
72 |
20 |
-12 |
| Private non-housing |
20 |
64 |
16 |
+4 |
16 |
64 |
21 |
-5 |
| Public non-housing |
13 |
67 |
20 |
-7 |
11 |
65 |
24 |
-13 |
| |
| TOTAL PRIVATE |
22 |
57 |
21 |
+1 |
16 |
59 |
25 |
-9 |
| TOTAL PUBLIC |
11 |
70 |
19 |
-8 |
9 |
67 |
24 |
-15 |
| ALL WORK |
18 |
62 |
20 |
-2 |
14 |
62 |
25 |
-11 |
On aggregate, member firms are anticipating the size of their workforce to be reduced during the next quarter. In South Wales, no firms expect to increase workforce size. In Northern Counties, the North West and London region, it is not anticipated that workforce size will decrease. In the Midland, Southern and South West regions, fewer firms expect to be able to increase their workforce, whereas in Yorkshire and Trent and Eastern Counties a greater number of firms anticipate an increase in workforce size over the next three months, (Table 13).
Table 13
Percentage of firms reporting increased and decreased anticipated workloads by region, 1st Q 1998
| |
3rd Q '98 Actual |
4th Q '98 Expected |
| Increase |
Same |
Decrease |
Increase |
Same |
Decrease |
| Northern |
33 |
58 |
8 |
8 |
92 |
0 |
| North West |
4 |
83 |
13 |
9 |
91 |
0 |
| Yorkshire & Trent |
4 |
82 |
14 |
8 |
81 |
12 |
| Midlands |
10 |
90 |
0 |
8 |
88 |
4 |
| Eastern |
4 |
96 |
0 |
8 |
84 |
8 |
| London |
10 |
86 |
5 |
10 |
90 |
0 |
| Southern |
12 |
74 |
15 |
3 |
87 |
10 |
| South West |
36 |
67 |
3 |
13 |
81 |
6 |
| South Wales |
11 |
89 |
0 |
0 |
88 |
13 |
| TOTAL |
13 |
80 |
7 |
8 |
86 |
6 |
First Posted: 22 July 1998. Last Updated: 19 February 1999.
