Texas Employment Report: Employee Confidence Index Drops

DALLAS, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ — The Texas Employee Confidence Index decreased 3.7 points to 45.7 in December, according to the latest Spherion(R) Employment Report. The monthly survey of Texas workers, conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Spherion Corporation, indicates that workers are less optimistic about the economy, job market and in their ability to find a new job.

Results from the Texas Employment Report:

• Sixty-six percent of workers believe the economy is getting weaker, increasing five percentage points from November.
• Fewer workers are likely to look for a new job. Specifically, 26 percent indicated that they are likely to do so versus 41 percent in the previous month.
• More than two-thirds of workers (68 percent) believe that fewer jobs are available, compared to 60 percent in November.

“Although Texas seems better off than most states, it has become evident that even Texas needs to be prepared for what will most likely be a tough 2009,” said Kim Lockhart, regional vice president for Spherion in Texas. “We are seeing firsthand that employers remain uncertain as to what their staffing levels will be like for the next six to 12 months. But, the need for safer investments will create a greater demand for finance and accounting professionals. In addition, as the need to sell more aggressively increases, those looking for work in the sales and marketing industry will likely have more opportunities as we head further into the new year. Education will probably remain one of the strongest sectors in the U.S. job market as more students attend postsecondary institutions and more working adults obtain additional skills. Healthcare will also remain strong due to an aging population and a greater demand for care. There are still jobs out there if you are looking in the right places.”

Full Report: http://www.spherion.com/pressroom/index.php?s=43&item=719

About the Spherion Employment Report

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About Spherion

Spherion Corporation is a leading recruiting and staffing company that provides integrated solutions to meet the evolving needs of companies and job candidates. As an industry pioneer for more than 60 years, Spherion has sourced, screened and placed millions of individuals in temporary, temp-to-hire and full-time jobs.

With approximately 700 locations in the United States and Canada, Spherion delivers innovative workforce solutions that improve business performance. Spherion provides its services to more than 8,000 customers, from Fortune 500 companies to a wide range of small and mid-size organizations. Employing more than 300,000 people annually through its network, Spherion is one of North America’s largest employers. Spherion operates under the following brands: Spherion Staffing Services Group for administrative, clerical and light industrial workers; Technisource for technology professionals and solutions; The Mergis Group for accounting and finance and other professional positions; Todays Office Professionals for specialty administrative personnel; and Spherion Recruitment Process Outsourcing. To learn more, visit www.spherion.com.

SOURCE Spherion Corporation