Workload hike to spur construction jobs in Saudi Arabia in 2019-20

Source: Constructionweekonline.com

Rics study finds sharp increase in 'new business enquiries and workloads' despite 'subdued' Q1 2019 regional activity

The growing number of construction projects in Saudi Arabia will lead to the creation of jobs for engineers in the kingdom during 2019-20, despite building companies facing "subdued" regional activity in Q1 2019 on the back of tighter margins, high competition, and soft demand, according to the Middle East Construction and Infrastructure Survey published for Q1 2019 by Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).

Rics said that while there was a “general reduction” of business enquiries in Oman and the UAE, survey respondents reported a sharp increase in "new business enquiries and [...] workloads" in Saudi Arabia.

Its report added: “This solid pipeline of new activity appears to support the outlook for an increase in workloads over the next 12 months, as well as headcount, as 68% of respondents stated to increase hiring over the year.”

Rics added that a potential increase in oil prices – off the back of US sanctions and a drying up of global spare capacity – could also act as a “catalyst” for more optimistic workload outlook over the next 12 months, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

The figures mirror the results of Rics’ Q3 2018 survey, where respondents reported hiring increases in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, despite a decline in overall construction activity at the time.