The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) released its first quarter 2014 Business Quarterly survey, which provided a quarter-to-quarter surge in inquiries from potential clients for new work, and hiring plans grew slightly from the last quarter.

Fully 80.2 percent reported stable to significantly higher inquiries for work, representing an increase from 74.9 percent last quarter. In addition, 72.2 percent of firm representatives responding indicated stable to higher billable hours in the first quarter of 2013, compared to 75.7 percent last quarter.

Year to year, 83.4 percent claimed stable to significantly higher first-quarter inquiries from potential clients for new project work, slightly higher than the first quarter of 2013 (81.4 percent). Additionally, 76 percent indicated first-quarter billable hours remained about the same or were higher.

Of all firms with two or more employees, nearly half indicated they plan to hire in the second quarter of 2014, slightly more than the previous quarter (48.5 percent). Some 42.9 percent of firms with 10 to 49 employees will be hiring an entry-level landscape architect in the second quarter of 2014.

The survey also asked respondents to rank what satisfies them about a career in the landscape architecture profession. The challenge of enhancing communities’ resilience and their ability to withstand natural disasters and weather extremes (8.5 average rating) was cited as the top reason. Others included promoting healthy living (7.0 average rating) and creating green space in urban settings (6.60 average rating).

To view the full report, visit ASLA.org.