The State of the Profession report, an international counterpart to the Institute’s UK-focused survey, reflected many of the long-standing issues found in the UK profession, with many reporting workload pressures. 

More than half said they occasionally lacked capacity in their roles, while 37% reported lacking capacity frequently or all the time. Around 43% said they felt personally overstretched frequently or all the time. 

Harassment also remains a concern, with 38% of international respondents reporting they had experienced abuse while working as planners, although this is lower than the 65–71% reported by planners across the UK. 

Public perception of the profession was also seen as challenging. Nearly half believed the public holds an unfavourable view of planning, almost double the proportion who felt it is viewed positively (25%). 

However, climate change was the primary concern among planners globally. In East Asia and the Pacific, which accounted for 43% of respondents, one planner described the challenge as “delivering more inclusive, climate-resilient and affordable development in the face of rapid urban change,” while balancing growth pressures with social equity, sustainability and the need to build stronger public trust in planning processes. 

Other respondents were based in the Middle East and North Africa (14%), Sub-Saharan Africa (13%), Europe and Central Asia (11%), and North America (10%), with smaller proportions from South Asia (5%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (4%). 

Mark Hand, International Director at the RTPI, said: “Many of the respondents to this survey live in areas that will see the largest rates of urbanisation in the coming decades and, whenever possible, this should be done right – sustainably, equitable, and in a way that works for people and the planet.  

“Our international members are sounding a warning on climate challenges already impacting their regions, and calling for more planners to help adapt. We are calling for a wider recognition of planning as a profession. Planners will play an essential role in this fight, and we’re proud to have recently joined a partnership with UN-Habitat to help address the global planning capacity crises.”   

UN-Habitat and the RTPI announced a new partnership in February to strengthen planning capacity as governments grapple with climate change, inequality, rapid urbanisation and housing shortages.