Study shows huge architecture job losses

ARCHITECTURAL firms have cut close to two-thirds of their workforce in the last two years.

Research conducted by recruitment firm Hays found that the figure is slightly higher in Dublin.

Close to one-third of architectural firms around the country have laid off between 61% and 100% of their staff since 2007, from receptionists to partners.

Manager of Hays Architecture, Paul O’Donnell, said the scale of job losses is “simply staggering”.

“The Architecture In Ireland Employment Report by Hays clearly demonstrates that architecture has felt more than its fair share of pain during this recession.

“One practice we spoke to had shed 168 out of 180 jobs,” he said.

Hays said 178 architectural firms responded to the survey, which was carried out at the end of last year. The firms employed 2,306 people in 2007, but just 945 by the end of last year. Some 16% of the firms who responded have not shed any jobs since 2007.

“The devastation of the architectural industry over the past two years is even showing at college level, where applications to level eight architectural college courses has seen a drop of 27%, from 3,952 to 2,787. This shows that even school-leavers are losing faith in the industry,” said Mr O’Donnell.

The survey also found that two in five firms expect to recruit again within the next 18 months. Of these, many report they will rehire staff that they have made redundant.

One respondent in Dublin said they had “no idea” when they’ll recruit again. “We’re all just trying to hold on to our own jobs,” he said.

Another director in a formerly large firm said: “I have a huge reservation in hiring permanent staff again and will most likely outsource instead as I do not want to have to let people go again.”

According to the survey, banks also posed a problem for the architects, with 70% of firms indicating that they had projects in the pipeline being held up due to lack of finance.

“Firms that diversified and sought a strategy to develop a broader range of services and expertise in these more resilient areas have fared better in the recession,” said Mr O’Donnell.

“These businesses have on average, retained staff at twice the rate of the national average,” he added.