The ACE Survey received over 3,750 responses from all countries in Europe and the results have been analysed and weighted to give statistical reliability. They show that 65.5% of those who responded believe that the situation is bad or very bad at the present time. This figure is the worst recorded in the five editions of the survey that have been conducted by the ACE.

 

Paradoxically, the respondents were, with 43%, more optimistic that there will be an increase in workload and new orders in the coming three months. This is the first time that those who are optimistic (43%) outweigh those who are pessimistic (21%).  In addition, there were 17% of respondents that expect to see an increase in staff numbers in the next three months compared to 15.5% who expect a decrease in the same period.

 

These are positive signs and provide a glimmer of hope that the worst is now and that an improvement may come in the next quarter.

 

As the architectural profession is a profession that is the first to feel the cold wind of recession and the first to feel the warn breeze of a recovery, these opinions give a little hope that maybe the worst is just about over. The prospect that these results are the signs of a recovery in the short term are exciting indeed and the ACE looks forward in conducting its next survey in June 2010 in order test if this trend will continue.

 

To download the full result of the survey, please go to:

or contact Adrian Joyce, Director at adrian.joyce@ace-cae.eu