U.S. Workers Start Year With Measured Confidence
February 01 2006 - 6:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
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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