More than nine in ten construction professionals around the world (92%) remain optimistic that their business will survive the covid-19 pandemic.
That’s according to a survey conducted by the Chartered
Institute of Building (CIOB) and Global Construction Review.
Taken by more than 500 construction professionals from
Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore,
South Africa, United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom and the USA, 56% of
survey respondents said their organisations were keeping all or some sites
open. 76% said their employees were able to observe social distancing on their
way into work, and 84% said they were able to observe social distancing onsite.
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But nearly 70% of respondents said a quarter or more of
their organisation’s projected revenue this year had been jeopardised.
Some 20% said more than half of planned projects had been delayed or cancelled.
Nearly 40% said staff were being asked to take pay cuts, while lay-offs were
occurring among employers of nearly a quarter of respondents.
Caroline Gumble, chief executive of the CIOB, said: “Firstly, many thanks to everyone who
completed our survey. It’s a busy time for most people in our industry so the
responses are much appreciated. Secondly, it’s good to hear that there is so
much activity getting underway and much hope and positivity in the industry.
While it was necessary for some sites to temporarily close their doors, we are
glad to see that the majority of construction workers are optimistic in their
outlook and are able to maintain a safe environment whilst working. However, we
want to remind everyone that it is imperative to stay safe and follow the
appropriate guidelines, including, for the UK, the latest CLC Site Operating Procedures.”
Most respondents worked for larger companies, with nearly
half (48.8%) working for companies employing more than 500 people. Of those,
37.3% work for companies employing more than 1,000 people. In terms of employer
organisations, most (37.4%) were main contractors. The main types of other
employers were project manager/QS (14.2%), public-sector client (10.9%),
consulting engineer (10.4%), private-sector client (9%) and specialist
contractor (5.7%).
Among the personal stories from the survey, many CIOB
members have been stepping up to ensure that vulnerable people - in
construction and in society at large - are protected during this pandemic. The
survey found that 44% have volunteered to help people in their community, such
as shopping for the elderly, 42% have volunteered to support essential workers
and 36% have donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to front-line health
and social care workers.
