Starting Shipyard - Just take my money and give me a starting shipyard. I am never not going to rush buy the first one, then rush buy a survey ship. If I were to build the first Shipyard, that would be a mistake. If i were to try to build anything before the Shipyard, that would be a huge mistake. I don't know what the AIs are doing, but apparently they're not trying to colonize the galaxy.
Citizens - It makes no sense for Leaders to give +6% to any ability, while specialists only give 3%. I think both should give 5%.Citizens on planets are also a bit weak. Promotions, I've never used any, maybe they're too expensive.
+% Improvements- I think you nerfed them a bit too much. Factories are just useless now. The only things worth building now are Farms and Cities.