Accounting and finance workers were less confident in the job market in December, according to the Hudson Employment Index, though the index found 2006 to be a good year for the sector, overall.
Less optimism in hiring activity, lower job satisfaction and concerns about job security sparked the decline in the monthly measure of employee confidence, which surveys approximately 9,000 workers across all industries. This month's Index is well below last December's reading of 116.1.
However, accounting and finance workers were more confident in the employment market in 2005 than workers in any other sector surveyed, with an index averaging 107.9, though that number was still 10 points lower than the sector's average in 2004.
Throughout the year, accounting and finance workers consistently reported greater optimism about their personal finances than other workers, and also expressed the least concern over losing their jobs.
The December index for accounting and finance workers also showed:
- There was a 3 point drop to 33 percent in the number of sector workers who expected their firms to hire in the coming months. The number of people anticipating layoffs rose 2 points, to 21 percent.
- Compared to 72 percent in November, just 68 percent of workers said they were happy with their current jobs in December, the fewest in more than a year.
- Additionally, accounting and finance professionals were more concerned with job security in December, as 22 percent said they were worried about losing their job compared to 19 percent in November.
- There was a marginal decline in how sector workers felt about their finances.
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. Hudson's year-end survey was based on responses from 1,874 workers.
