ASLA Q2 Business Survey Results

Landscape architects drew less business activity during the second quarter of 2012, but the number of billable hours increased slightly from the first quarter, according to the American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) Business Quarterly survey. Some year-over-year data also shows slightly weaker performance.

Quarter to quarter, Q2 2012 saw 73.4 percent of firms reporting stable or improved billable hours, and 71.2 percent reported stable or improved inquiries for new work. Year over year, nearly three-quarters of respondents indicated lower second-quarter levels in new business inquiries (74.3 percent), a slight decrease from Q2 2011 (75.7 percent). They also reported a decline in billable hours (69.3 percent), compared to 73.8 percent reported in 2011's second quarter.

Employment plans, too, reflect a weak job market for landscape architects. Only 22.3 percent of firms responding indicated plans to hire, compared to 28.2 percent in the previous quarter.

'''The survey reflects the overall uncertain conditions that continue to cast a long shadow on our economy,'' says Nancy Somerville, Hon. ASLA, executive vice president and CEO of ASLA. ''The past few years have been rough for many firms, but many are managing to hold steady.''

Firm leaders were also asked to name services and specialties that have been requested more often since year-end 2009. Top responses included stormwater management design (53.0 percent), low-maintenance design (41.7 percent), and region-specific design (28.6 percent).

Key Survey Highlights:

Compared to the first quarter 2012, your second quarter 2012 billable hours were:

Compared to the first quarter 2012, your second quarter 2012 inquiries for new work were:

Year to year, compared to the second quarter in 2011, your second quarter 2012 billable hours were:

Year to year, compared to the second quarter in 2011, your second quarter 2012 inquiries for new work were:

Do you plan on hiring any employees in the third quarter of 2012?

Since year-end 2009, our firm has:

Percent reporting an increase of the following project types over the past five years: