HHGP Hudson Highland Grp., Inc. (MM)

Worker Confidence Stable in March Despite Concerns Over Personal Finances Hudson Employment Index(SM) Slips 0.8 Points NEW YORK, March 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- U.S. worker confidence held steady in March as the Hudson Employment Index(SM) fell nearly a point to 101.2 from 102.0. The slight downward shift represents the second consecutive decline in worker confidence in the employment market. The decline was driven primarily by declining optimism about personal finances -- just 42 percent of workers now say their finances are getting better, down from 44 percent a month ago. Additionally, the number reporting that their situation is getting worse rose from 36 percent to 39 percent. The current Index figure is significantly lower than one year ago, when the March 2004 Index came in at 107.0. Partially offsetting this decline, workers in March were somewhat more confident in their employers' hiring plans. Since February, the percent of employees nationwide expecting their firms to lay off staff has fallen from 18 percent to 17 percent. The number of workers anticipating that their companies will hire held steady at 31 percent. Concerns over job security were also unchanged with 71 percent of U.S. workers not worried about job loss. "Record high gas prices and the declining value of the dollar are causing workers to feel less secure about their own finances," said Jeff Anderson, senior vice president, Hudson Global Resources, North America. "Add in the uncertainty of Social Security, and even with hiring picking up, workers are feeling the pinch in their pocketbooks." While they remain less upbeat than the overall workforce, optimism among workers at firms with fewer than 50 employees rose in March, spurred by their firms' positive hiring outlook, less anticipated lay off activity and more job satisfaction. Managers also grew more optimistic in March as a result of fewer expected lay offs and higher levels of job security. All Under 50 250-500 Private Men Women Workers Employees Employees Sector Expect layoffs 17% 13% 18% 15% 16% 17% Expect hiring 31% 24% 33% 37% 35% 26% Personal finances are improving 42% 39% 34% 41% 45% 37% Personal finances getting worse 39% 39% 40% 39% 36% 42% * A more detailed data report is available at http://hudson-index.com/. The method for calculating the Hudson Employment Index has been revised slightly effective with last month's release. The revisions were based upon a review of data collected over the past year to better correlate with movements in the labor market. A comparison of the revised Index numbers with the original calculations is provided at http://www.hudson-index.com/. Hudson, one of the world's leading professional staffing, outsourcing and human capital solution providers, publishes the Hudson Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. workforce confidence in the employment market. Next month's Hudson Employment Index will be released on May 4, 2005. The Hudson Employment Index The Hudson Employment Index (Hudson-Index.com) measures the U.S. workforce's confidence in the employment market. Based upon monthly telephone surveys with approximately 9,000 U.S. workers, the Index tracks aggregate employment trends around career opportunities, hiring intentions, job satisfaction and retention. The data is compiled each month by Rasmussen Reports, LLC, an independent research firm (RasmussenReports.com). Survey results are segmented by eleven metropolitan cities and four industries. The metro markets are: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. Industry sectors surveyed are accounting and finance, healthcare, information technology, and manufacturing. The Hudson Employment Index also measures employee confidence by age, gender, race and compensation levels. Data reported in this release is based upon a national telephone survey of 9,276 working Americans during the month of March. The margin of sampling error for a survey based upon this many interviews is approximately 1 percent with a 95 percent level of confidence. The data is not seasonally adjusted. It will be reviewed at year-end to determine if seasonal adjustments are appropriate. The Hudson Employment Index is a service mark owned by Hudson Highland Group, Inc. Hudson Hudson delivers specialized professional staffing, outsourcing and human capital solutions worldwide. From single placements to total solutions, the firm assesses, recruits and develops talent to meet the specific business needs of each client. Global practice areas include Accounting & Finance; Engineering, Operations & Scientific; Healthcare; Human Resources; IT & Telecommunications; Legal; and Sales & Marketing. Hudson is a division of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HHGP) one of the world's leading professional staffing, retained executive search and human capital solution providers. More information is available at http://hudson.com/. Special Note: Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for historical information contained herein, the statements made in this release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the company's strategic direction, prospects and future results. Certain factors, including factors outside of our control, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward- looking statements, including economic and other conditions in the markets in which we operate, risks associated with acquisitions, competition, seasonality and the other risks discussed in our Form 10-K and our other filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which discussions are incorporated in this. DATASOURCE: Hudson CONTACT: Jennifer Bernhart of Hudson, +1-813-890-7379, ; or Anshula Ahluwalia of Ogilvy Public Relations, +1-312-397-6074, , for Hudson Web site: http://hudson-index.com/

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