Worker confidence climbs in Florida, Spherion says

By Palm Beach Business.com

FORT LAUDERDALE — Florida’s job market remains weak and likely won’t change much over the next few years, yet workers in the Sunshine State are more confident about their employment prospects, according to Spherion Corp.’s monthly survey.

The Florida Employee Confidence Index increased 2.6 points to 47.1 in October, according to Spherion. The monthly survey of Florida workers, conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Spherion, found, workers are more optimistic about the strength of the economy and the future of their current employers, with fewer reporting a likelihood to job search in the next 12 months.

chart of spherion data

According to the survey:

More workers believe the economy is getting stronger. Specifically, 26 percent of workers believe the economy is getting stronger, an increase of eight percentage points from September.
Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of workers are confident in the future of their current employer, representing a two percentage-point increase from September.
Fewer workers are likely to make a job transition in the next 12 months, with 26 percent reporting the likelihood to do so. This is a seven percentage point decrease from the prior month.

"The economic downturn has proven to be quite the game-changer for many industries and businesses. The impact has been especially felt throughout the state of Florida," said Paula Franco, branch manager for Spherion Staffing Services in Florida. "Our latest Florida Employee Confidence Index is a reflection of just that. The Index nudged up a bit in October, as more workers believe that the economy is getting stronger.

“However, this segment of workers only represents a quarter of those surveyed; underscoring the fragile economic state businesses must navigate through. With a quarter of workers likely to job search in the next 12 months, companies' efforts to retain and cultivate their existing workforce should be a top priority."