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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., October 27, 2009 — The Administrative & Clerical Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. administrative and clerical workers, inched up 1.7 percentage points to 45.3 in the third quarter of 2009, according to a recent survey commissioned by Todays Office Professionals®, a division of Spherion Corporation (NYSE:SFN). The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive®, shows only subtle changes in confidence levels from the previous quarter. Of the most noteworthy findings in the survey is that fact that while more workers reported confidence in their ability to find a new job than in the previous quarter, fewer indicated that they are actually considering making a job transition in the next 12 months.
Results from the Administrative and Clerical Employment Report:
- Feweradministrative and clerical workers believe the economy is getting weaker. Specifically, 40 percent of workers believe the economy is getting weaker versus 44 percent in the second quarter of 2009.
- One-third (33 percent) of administrative and clerical workers reported that they are confident in their ability to find a new job, reflecting a six percentage point increase from the previous quarter.
- Twenty-eight percent of administrative and clerical workers surveyed indicate that they are likely to job search in the next 12 months, a decrease of seven percentage points from the second quarter of 2009.
“It is not surprising that our latest Administrative and Clerical Employee Confidence Index is relatively unchanged from the previous quarter,” said Brendan Courtney, president of Todays Office Professionals. “Despite the glimmers of hope pointing toward economic stabilization, our Report has historically proven to be highly reflective of the general economic outlook, which continues to remain in a holding pattern. It is interesting to note that while administrative and clerical confidence edged upward this quarter, fewer workers are looking to make a job transition in the next 12 months. Despite this slight decrease in worker mobility, we still urge companies to keep a clearly-defined focus on their retention strategies that will help better position them for the economic turnaround. ”
| 3Q 2009 Employment Report Results: Administrative & Clerical | Admin/Clerical Workers | U.S. Workers | |||||
| 2Q 2009 | 3Q 2009 | % Point Change | 2Q 2009 | 3Q 2009 | % Point Change | ||
| Economy | Getting Stronger | 16% | 16% | 0 | 19% | 22% | +3 |
| Staying Same | 40% | 44% | +4 | 40% | 41% | +1 | |
| Getting Weaker | 44% | 40% | -4 | 41% | 37% | -4 | |
| Job Availability | More Jobs | 5% | 5% | 0 | 6% | 7% | +1 |
| Same Amount | 22% | 22% | 0 | 21% | 23% | +2 | |
| Fewer Jobs | 73% | 72% | -1 | 73% | 70% | -3 | |
| Ability to Find New Job | Confident | 27% | 33% | +6 | 41% | 39% | -2 |
| Neutral | 43% | 38% | -5 | 33% | 35% | +2 | |
| Not Confident | 30% | 30% | 0 | 26% | 25% | -1 | |
| Future of Current Employer | Confident | 62% | 63% | +1 | 64% | 64% | 0 |
| Neutral | 23% | 24% | +1 | 23% | 24% | +1 | |
| Not Confident | 14% |
13% |
-1 | 13% | 12% | -1 | |
| Likelihood to Lose Job | Likely | 22% | 19% | -3 | 17% | 16% | -1 |
| Neutral | 11% | 13% | +2 | 13% | 13% | 0 | |
| Not Likely | 67% | 68% | +1 | 70% | 71% | +1 | |
| Likelihood to Look for New Job | Likely | 35% | 28% | -7 | 34% | 35% | +1 |
| Neutral | 9% | 12% | +3 | 12% | 12% | 0 | |
| Not Likely | 56% | 59% | +3 | 54% | 53% | -1 | |
About Todays Office Professionals
Todays Office Professionals is a premier provider of flexible, temp-to-hire and direct-hire professionals to a diverse portfolio of clients. Founded in 1982, Todays delivers high-quality talent and increased value through its network of 35 offices located across the U.S. Specialties include: administrative and clerical, call center, customer service, legal and financial staffing.
Todays Office Professionals is a division of Spherion Corporation (NYSE:SFN), which operates a family of specialty brands providing strategic workplace solutions in professional recruiting, outsourcing, managed services and contractor compliance programs, technology services and general staffing. For more information, please visit www.todays.com.
