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Todays Office Professionals Survey: Administrative and Clerical Worker Confidence Trends Upward for Second Consecutive Quarter

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

Full Report

Demographic Results

Survey Background Information

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.    

 

 

 

Q3 2009 Todays Office Professionals Administrative & Clerical Employment Report
Click here for a PDF of the Report (73 KB)

 

Media Contact

Lesly Cardec

954.308.6302

 

leslycardec@sfngroup.com

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