Mergis Group A&F Worker Confidence Rises; Nearly Half of A&F Workers Looking to Make a Job Change

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jan. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Accounting and Finance Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. accounting and finance workers, edged up 2.2 points to 56.1 in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to a recent survey commissioned by The Mergis Group®, the professional placement division of SFN Group, Inc. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive®, indicates that an increased population of the workforce believes it is likely they will make a job change in the next 12 months.

Results from the Accounting & Finance Employment Report:

• Fifty-one percent of accounting and finance workers believe there to be fewer jobs available, representing a nine percentage point drop from the third quarter of 2010.
• Half of accounting and finance workers are confident in their ability to find a new job, up six percentage points from the previous quarter.
• More than three-fourths (78 percent) of accounting and finance workers are confident in their job security, as compared to 74 percent reporting confidence the third quarter of 2010.
• Nearly half (44 percent) of accounting and finance workers are likely to make a job transition in the next 12 months, increasing 14 percentage points from the previous quarter.

"The Mergis Group Accounting and Finance Confidence Index displayed a moderate, yet optimistic gain in the final quarter of 2010, with a noticeable increase in the amount of workers looking to make a job transition," stated Brendan Courtney, president of The Mergis Group. "Our Index continues to remain in accord with the national economic situation, reflecting mixed sentiment and fluctuating levels of confidence among workers. However, our latest Report reveals increased amounts of worker confidence, an indicator that perhaps the economic recovery is gaining traction and 2011 will see a return to healthier hiring activity. If and when that happens, we expect many workers to begin seeking new employment opportunities, with nearly half than of accounting and finance workers already reporting the likelihood of job transition in the next 12 months."

Demographic Results

Survey Background Information

About The Mergis Group

The Mergis Group is a leading professional placement firm that specializes in recruiting for positions in finance and accounting, engineering and 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 division of SFN Group, Inc. SFN operates a family of specialty businesses providing strategic workforce solutions in professional services and general staffing. To learn more, please visit www.mergisgroup.com.

SOURCE The Mergis Group