Hudson Employment Index(SM) Rises to 107.7 NEW YORK, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Worker confidence in the U.S. labor market remained strong in April as the Hudson Employment Index(SM) climbed 1.5 points to 107.7. The April reading, which is 5.3 points higher than this time last year, was fueled by a surge in hiring expectations among employees and managers. Work Force Projects Strong Hiring The number of workers expecting their employers to boost headcount in the coming months rose two points in April to an all-time high of 34 percent. Private sector workers were even more optimistic with 40 percent expecting their firms to add staff. Not since October 2004 has confidence on the hiring front been so bullish among workers. Managers echoed that sentiment, 34 percent reporting this month that they expected their firms to be hiring, up from 32 percent the previous month. Other Factors Hint at Softening Despite expectations of robust hiring, workers revealed weakened confidence in other areas. Ironically, the numbers of employees expecting layoffs and concerned about job security each gained a point, rising to 17 percent and 21 percent, respectively. There was also a one-point drop to 74 percent among respondents content with their jobs. Additionally, 40 percent indicated that their finances were getting worse, the highest percent to make this claim since last year. "Rising energy prices and interest rates may overshadow the optimism employees have in the labor market in the coming months," said Steve Wolfe, executive vice president, Hudson, North America. "While we don't expect worker confidence to fall dramatically, we are likely to see a softening as people struggle with greater day-to-day financial strain." Private Sector All Workers Workers All Managers All Workers April 2006 April 2006 April 2006 April 2005 Hudson Employment Index 107.7 106.9 116.7 102.4 Expected hiring 34% 40% 34% 32% Personal finances getting worse 40% 41% 36% 40% Concerned about job security 21% 22% 19% 21% * A more detailed data report is available at http://www.hudson-index.com/. Hudson, one of the world's leading professional staffing, outsourcing and talent management solutions providers, publishes the Hudson Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. worker confidence in the employment market. Results are not seasonally adjusted. Next month's Hudson Employment Index will be released on May 31. The Hudson Employment Index The Hudson Employment Index (Hudson-Index.com) is based on monthly telephone surveys with approximately 9,000 U.S. workers. The Index tracks aggregate employment trends regarding career opportunities, hiring intentions, job satisfaction and retention. The data is compiled each month by Rasmussen Reports, LLC, an independent research firm (http://www.rasmussenreports.com/). Survey results are segmented by 11 cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. The Index surveys five occupational sectors: accounting and finance, health care, information technology, manufacturing and legal. The Hudson Employment Index also measures employee confidence by age, gender, race and compensation. Data reported in this release is based on a national telephone survey of 9,619 working Americans during the month of April. The margin of sampling error for a survey based on this number of 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 talent management solutions worldwide. From single placements to total solutions, the firm helps clients achieve greater organizational performance by assessing, recruiting, developing and engaging the best and brightest people for their businesses. Hudson is a division of Hudson Highland Group, Inc. one of leading professional staffing, retained executive search and talent management solutions providers. The company employs more than 3,800 professionals serving clients and candidates in more than 20 countries through its Hudson and Highland Partners businesses. More information is available at http://www.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 release by reference. DATASOURCE: Hudson CONTACT: Sarah Kafenstok of Hudson, +1-312-795-4202, ; or Anshula Ahluwalia of Ogilvy Public Relations, +1-312-397-6074, , for Hudson Web site: http://www.hudson.com/ http://www.hudson-index.com/ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

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