Pandemic results in ‘steep fall’ in Q2 civils workloads

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35% of Scottish firms have reported a fall in workloads compared with a year ago in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest CECA Workload Trends Survey, for Q2 2020, shows a ‘steep fall’ in activity. 18% of Scottish respondents, on balance, reported a decline in order books, while 26% of firms are expecting a fall in workloads for the year ahead.

Employment in the sector has also declined, with costs increasing for 87% of Scottish businesses.

The Britain-wide results follow a similar patterns, with workloads in eight out of ten sectors declining.

Despite employment balances for all types of worker hitting a decade-low in Q2, CECA said expectations for the future ‘remain positive’.