Finance and Accounting Employee Confidence Index Rebounds in Fourth Quarter
BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mergis Group Finance and Accounting Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. finance and accounting workers, rose 5.4 points to 55.8—ending a two-quarter decline. The Mergis Group survey, conducted online by Harris Interactive® among 230 employed U.S. finance and accounting workers in October, November and December of 2012, finds growing confidence in job availability and in workers' personal employment situation, despite continued tepid sentiment in the strength of the economy.
"Confidence among finance and accounting workers has rebounded after declining for two consecutive quarters, mirroring a projected year of growth for the industry in 2013," said Steve McMahan, executive vice president of Randstad US, Professionals. "While the profession has been met by several challenges over the past four years, as have many sectors, it appears that the start of the New Year will bring about positive momentum for the industry. The continued bounce back of the housing market is fueling growth opportunities, particularly for mortgage underwriters and loan documentation specialists to help manage the increased workloads. In fact, home sales in the U.S. increased six percent in 2012, the first annual increase since 2005, according to a report by CoreLogic this month. In other industries, the need for accountants and auditors continues to grow, driven in part by government regulations such as the Dodd-Frank Act that impact the way companies are audited. Having reliable, qualified accountants and auditors to ensure the books are in order and that the organization is in compliance with various regulations is imperative. Not surprisingly, The Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts employment of accountants and auditors will grow by 22 percent between 2008 and 2018 – much faster than the average for other occupations."
Beliefs about Strength of Economy Remain Unchanged
- Thirty-seven percent of finance and accounting employees believe the economy is getting weaker, a slight decrease of three percentage points from the third quarter of 2012. Only a quarter (25 percent) of workers believe the strength of the economy is getting stronger—showing no change from the previous report.
Increasing Number of Finance and Accounting Workers Believe More Jobs are Available
- Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of finance and accounting employees believe more jobs are available, representing a significant increase of eight percentage points from the previous quarter.
Confidence in Ability to Find New Jobs Skyrockets
- More than half (53 percent) of finance and accounting workers are confident in their ability to find a new job, marking a 15 percentage point increase from third quarter. Only 16 percent say they are not confident that they could find a new job.
One-Third Likely to Look for New Job
- One-third (33 percent) of finance and accounting workers say they are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months, an increase from 26 percent last quarter. However, 58 percent say they are not likely to make a job transition, representing no change from third quarter.
The Finance and Accounting Confidence Index provides insight into employee attitudes and sentiment around the economy, job market, job security, employers and in their ability to find a new job. Together with other economic indicators, employers can use this report to assess the overall health of the finance and accounting industry and their workforce.
To view the latest quarterly trends report, click here.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of The Mergis Group from October 8-10, November 12-14, and December 11-13, 2012, among 4,738 adults ages 18 and older, of which 230 are employed in finance and accounting. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.
About The Mergis Group
The Mergis Group is a leading professional placement firm that specializes in recruiting for positions in finance and accounting, manufacturing, sales and marketing, legal and human resources. The firm provides recruiting services to Fortune 500 and small and mid-sized companies through its network of 35 offices nationally. The Mergis Group is a now a part of Randstad. For more information, please visit www.mergisgroup.com.
About Randstad
Randstad is a $22.0 billion global provider of HR services and the second largest staffing organization in the world. From temporary staffing to permanent placement to inhouse, professionals, search & selection, and HR Solutions, Randstad holds top positions around the world and has approximately 29,300 corporate employees and around 4,500 branches and inhouse locations in 39 countries around the world. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam.
Learn more at www.randstad.com and access Randstad's panoramic US thought leadership knowledge center through its Workforce360 site that offers valuable insight into the latest economic indicators and HR trends shaping the world of work.
SOURCE The Mergis Group
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