Employee Confidence Index Slips in February
The SFN Group Employee Confidence Index decreased by 1.2 points to 48.9 in February. The
Index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism
in the economic environment, shows that fewer workers are confident in the strength of the
economy and in job availability. On the contrary, more workers are optimistic about their job
security and the future of their current employer.
"Although our report shows a decline in overall confidence from the previous month, it is still
6.2 points higher than the low point of 40.1 it registered at one year ago," said Roy Krause,
president and CEO of SFN Group, Inc. "In fact, hiring demand is better now than what we
experienced a few months ago. We are seeing the demand for temporary work starting to pick-up
-- generally a sign that full-time hiring is on the horizon. From an employer and candidate
perspective, I see this flexible segment becoming a greater percentage of the total workforce as
we move forward in a recovery. Many employers continue to be hesitant to add staff on a full-
time basis due to the uncertainty of the market. Additionally, the idea of working on different
projects seems to be an appealing option for not only younger job seekers, but also all types of
professional workers and Baby Boomers. As we talk to more and more candidates, we are
finding that more people are looking for greater flexibility, stronger engagement, additional
income and/or the opportunity to stay on top of the latest technology trends."
A Look Inside the Report:
Confidence in Overall Situation:
The SFN Group Employee Confidence Index decreased by 1.2 points to 48.9 in February. The
Index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism
in the economic environment, shows that fewer workers are confident in the strength of the
economy and in job availability. On the contrary, more workers are optimistic about their job
security and the fut