LA Firm Survey: Hiring Highest Since 2008

''The number of firms planning to hire is the highest since 2008, reflecting a slow, long-term recovery in the marketplace'' - Nancy Somerville, CEO and executive vice president of ASLA, commenting on results of the ASLA first quarter business survey.

According to a first quarter business survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), more than two thirds of firm leaders (67.9 percent) report stable or higher billable hours in the first quarter of 2011, an increase from 59.6 percent last quarter and 56.4 percent this time last year. Three out of four (76.6 percent) respondents report stable or rising inquiries for new work in the first quarter, up from 59.4 percent in the last quarter of 2010, and up from the 72.2 percent from the first quarter of 2010.

Hiring also increased, with 30.5 percent of respondents planning to hire in the upcoming quarter, up from 20.7 percent last quarter and 21.6 percent this time last year. In addition, 10.3 percent of respondents plan to hire an entry-level landscape architect.

The Q1 2011 national survey was fielded April 7-22, with 339 firms responding.

Compared to the fourth quarter 2010, your first quarter 2011 billable hours were:
Significantly higher (more than 10%): 12.9%
Slightly higher (5-10% higher): 25.7%
About the same (plus or minus 5%): 29.3%
Slightly lower (5-10% lower): 14.7%
Significantly lower (more than 10%): 17.4%

Compared to the fourth quarter 2010, your first quarter 2011 inquiries for new work were:
Significantly higher (more than 10%): 17.4%
Slightly higher (5-10% higher): 32.0%
About the same (plus or minus 5%): 27.2%
Slightly lower (5-10% lower): 11.7%

Year to year, compared to the first quarter in 2010, your first quarter 2011 billable hours were:
Significantly higher (more than 10%): 16.6%
Slightly higher (5-10% higher): 26.6%
About the same (plus or minus 5%): 21.1%
Slightly lower (5-10% lower): 15.4%
Significantly lower (more than 10%): 20.2%

Year to year, compared to the first quarter in 2010, your first quarter 2011 inquiries for new work were:
Significantly higher (more than 10%): 20.2%
Slightly higher (5-10% higher): 27.9%
About the same (plus or minus 5%): 23.9%
Slightly lower (5-10% lower): 12.6%
Significantly lower (more than 10%): 15.3%

Do you plan on hiring any employees in the second quarter of 2011?
Yes, we'll be hiring an experienced landscape architect: 6%
Yes, we'll be hiring an entry-level landscape architect: 10.3%
Yes, we'll be hiring an intern: 8.2%
Yes, we'll be hiring support staff: 4.5%
Yes, we'll be hiring other design/architecture/engineering staff: 7.6%
Yes, we'll be hiring other staff: 5.7%
No, we're not currently hiring: 69.5%

Do you have any projects, current or planned, that use the following green rating systems? (Percentage answering yes):
Sustainable Sites Initiative: 21.1%
LEED Rating Systems (not including LEED ND): 56.4%
LEED ND (neighborhood development): 27.8%
Living Building Challenge: 6.4%
National Green Building Standard: 14.1%
Greenroads: 7.4%
Green Globes: 3%
Project Rating for Infrastructure Sustainability and Management: 5.1%