NEW research from RICS has revealed that overall construction workloads in Scotland fell through the third quarter of 2026.
The findings are contained in the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Construction Monitor, but surveyors appear more positive on the outlook for the year ahead.
A net balance of -9% of survey respondents reported a fall in construction workloads in Scotland in Q3, falling further into negative territory from the -2% seen in the Q2 survey.
Public sector dependent sub-sectors were the only areas to see rises in workloads. Infrastructure activity rose with a net balance of 13% of respondents reporting an increase, while public housing activity also increased alongside ‘other public works’ activity.
However, activity across the private industrial and private commercial sectors was reported to have fallen (net balances of -13% and -22% respectively). Private housebuilding activity also saw a decline with a net balance of -18% reporting a fall.
More positively, a net balance of 17% of Scottish respondents expect overall workloads to rise over the next year, which is up from the net balance of 10% seen in the Q2 survey.
Surveyors in Scotland still remain hesitant on the outlook for profit margins, however, in the face of inflationary pressures.
Shortages of skilled professionals remains an issue, with 49% of respondents noting a shortage of quantity surveyors, 38% reporting a shortage of bricklayers, and 45% stating a shortage of other construction professionals.
Kinlay Laidlaw of Laidlaw Associates Building Surveying Ltd near Ayr said, “A lack of access to training, alongside a decline in interest in the construction industry and building surveying, is likely to contribute to the continued decline in skilled and experienced craft skills and professional skills across surveying and architecture.”
Ailsa McGregor, a surveyor and survey contributor based in Glasgow, added, “Delays in planning and decision-making are delaying the progress of projects and affecting the supply chain.”
Commenting on the UK picture, RICS chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn, said, “RICS data continues to show the financial pressures on housebuilders as the key factor holding back development with increased regulatory costs significantly impacting viability alongside rising material prices.”
