After confidence fell in August, accounting and finance industry workers grew more optimistic about the employment market in September, according to the Hudson Employment Index.
The index for sector workers climbed 5.6 points to 107.5 in September, whereas the national index fell about a point, to 96.8. The index is compiled each month by an independent research firm and is based upon telephone interviews and survey responses from approximately 9,000 U.S. workers.
Optimism regarding personal finance ratings, hiring outlook and job satisfaction also increased among sector workers in September. Job satisfaction in the accounting and finance industry was also at its highest point since the beginning of the year, with nearly 73 percent of industry employees claiming that they're happy in their current job.
In contrast to the finance and accounting sector, national worker confidence declined to yet another historic low, 96.8, as concerns around personal finances rose significantly. Nearly half, 47 percent, or workers indicated their financial situation is getting worse, the highest figure on record.
"As we might have expected, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita exacerbated an already dampened personal financial outlook," said senior vice president of Hudson North America Jeff Anderson, in a statement. "Even as we anticipate hiring to rebound in the coming months, financial concerns have a real potential to undermine workers' overall confidence in the employment market."
Confidence fell in nearly every state were data is available, most dramatically in Pennsylvania, California, and Texas.
