One-third of architects laid off in last year, survey finds
Almost one-third of Ireland’s architects have been made redundant over the last 12 months because of the slowdown in the economy and the collapse of the housing market, a new study has found. The number of architects out of work will rise as high as 41 per cent by the end of March, and the problems could get worse as Government spending on infrastructure contracts further, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has warned. RIAI director John Graby said the study offers a clear picture of where the industry is, following the collapse of the housing market. He said these developments have hit large and small firms alike and the behaviour of the Government is exacerbating problems of architects. “The Government and some Government agencies are not paying architects on time and, in some instances, they are not paying them at all,” Mr Graby said.
