New Hudson Employment Indexes(SM) for Legal and Hispanic Workers Register Below National Average NEW YORK, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hudson Employment Index(SM) remained on par with December's 103.4 reading as U.S. worker confidence slipped just .8 points to 102.6 in January. The most notable change contributing to this slight decline was the flagging optimism about hiring amongst managers. However, overall hiring expectations and job satisfaction held steady in January with only negligible shifts in employees' perceptions of their finances and job security. Buoyed by December's strong Index, the latest reading is higher than most recorded in 2005, although well below the 107.0 reading in January 2005. The survey also found that Hispanic workers were less optimistic than the overall workforce, as were people who work in the legal profession. The Indexes for these sectors, segmented for the first time in this month's survey, stood at 98.1 and 100.4, respectively. Hiring Expectations Down Among Managers Managers were less confident about their firms' hiring plans in January than the previous month. Only 29 percent anticipated more hiring in the coming months, compared to 33 percent in December. They were also slightly less optimistic than workers overall, 30 percent of whom anticipated a boost in headcount (unchanged from December). "Whereas we typically see a new year's increase, our polling indicates that workers are approaching this year with a 'wait-and-see' attitude," said Steve Wolfe, executive vice president, Hudson, North America. "This is not a great cause for concern, though, as worker sentiment remains essentially unchanged from December, which showed increased optimism overall." Tax Season Encourages Accounting & Finance Workers Accounting and finance workers were more confident in January than in December, likely reflecting an anticipated increase in business during the upcoming tax season. These workers were more optimistic about their job security, personal finances and job satisfaction. However, there was only a one-point increase, to 34 percent, in the number who expected their employers to add staff. All All Accounting Hispanic Legal Workers Managers & Finance Workers Workers Hudson Employment Index 102.6 111.7 112.6 98.1 100.4 Expected hiring 30% 29% 34% 30% 23% Concerned about job security 19% 19% 18% 22% 19% Rated personal finances as excellent 12% 17% 17% 10% 14% * A more detailed data report is available at http://www.hudson-index.com/. Hudson, one of the world's leading professional staffing, outsourcing and human capital 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 March 8. The Hudson Employment Index The Hudson Employment Index (http://www.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 9,327 working Americans during the month of January. 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 human capital 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 human capital 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: The Hudson Employment Index CONTACT: Nikki Leonardi of Hudson, +1-813-890-7521, ; or Sarah Kafenstok of Ogilvy Public Relations for Hudson, +1-312-397-6025, Web site: http://www.hudson.com/ http://www.hudson-index.com/ http://www.rasmussenreports.com/

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