Florida workers gain confidence

FORT LAUDERDALE — Statewide unemployment might be on the rise, but so too is workers’ view of Florida’s job market.

The Florida Employee Confidence Index increased 0.6 points to 45.2 in May, according to the latest Spherion Employment Report released Friday.

The monthly survey of Florida workers, conducted for Spherion by Harris Interactive, found that more workers are confident in the future of their current employers. Additionally, the number of workers indicating that they are likely to look for new job rose slightly to nearly 40 percent.

Results from the Florida Employment Report:

— Thirty-eight percent of workers are likely to look for a new job in
the next 12 months, an increase of two percentage points from the previous month.

— Forty-eight percent of workers are optimistic about their ability to find a new job, a rise of four percentage points from April.

— More workers report that they are confident in the future of their
current employers, with 63 percent indicating so, an increase of 14
percentage points from the previous month.

"Given the current state of the economy, it's a nice surprise to see
that workers' confidence edged up for the second consecutive month," said Paula Franco, branch manager for Spherion Staffing Services in Florida. "We continue to see the demand for flexible and permanent staff remaining steady. Even in today's environment, it is still a challenge to find top talent, especially in customer service, executive administrative and accounting positions.

“However, we are also finding that the overall hiring process is taking a lot longer. Not only are employers being more choosey, but it takes much more for a passive job seeker to be persuaded. Even though nearly 40 percent plan to look for a new job in the next year, many are hesitant to jump into a new company because of the uncertainty that exists."