Business conditions are starting to look up for landscape architecture firms, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects' first quarter 2013 Business Quarterly.

Firms reported a surge in inquiries from potential clients for new work, and more stable or rising billable hours. These improved conditions are reflected in more robust plans for hiring.

• 61.8 percent of firms reported slightly to significantly higher inquiries for work, a 42.1 percent increase from last quarter.
• 76.1 percent of firms indicated stable to higher billable hours in the first quarter, compared to 66.5 percent last quarter.
• Year to year, 59.5 percent of firms claimed slightly to significantly higher first-quarter inquiries from potential clients for new project work.
• 76.1 percent of firms indicated first-quarter billable hours remained about the same or were higher.

Hiring
Of all firms with two or more employees, 54.5 percent indicated they would be hiring in the second quarter of 2013, compared to 41.8 percent last quarter. Some 31.7 percent of firms with two or more employees said they plan to hire a landscape architect next quarter, either entry-level or experienced, a notable increase from 24.7 percent previously.

Key Survey Highlights

Compared to the fourth quarter 2012,
your first quarter 2013 billable hours were:

Year to year, compared to first quarter 2012,
your first quarter 2013 inquiries for new work were: