BOSTON, Feb. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Overall confidence
among finance and accounting workers dropped by 1.0 point to 61.3
in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to the Randstad
Professionals Finance & Accounting Employee Confidence Index.
The online study, conducted among 143 finance and accounting
employees by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Professionals, which
measures overall confidence among finance and accounting workers,
showed a boost in employees' optimism about their ability to find a
new job, with 59 percent of respondents feeling confident they
would be able to find new employment, a 10 percentage point
increase from the previous quarter.
Finance and accounting workers, however, reported lower levels
of optimism about the future of their employers and the security of
their current jobs. That said, nearly one-third (31%) stated they
are likely to job search over the next 12 months.
"Despite the small dip in overall confidence, finance and
accounting workers still reported one of the highest overall levels
when compared to other industries tracked," said Rebecca Callahan, Group President, Randstad
Professionals. "In fact, we are seeing many opportunities for
candidates across various geographies and industries, especially
for public accountants and accounting managers in 2014. Those
professionals who specialize in skills like ERP Software, Hyperion
or those who have their CPA certification will find the 2014
employment landscape even more promising. Additionally, while
industry certifications certainly increase worker employability, we
are also seeing employers seek more rounded attributes, such as
strong communication and analytical skills."
Q4 2013 Survey Highlights:
Increased Confidence in Finance and Accounting Workers'
Ability to Find New Jobs
- Nearly three-in-five (59%) finance and accounting employees are
confident in their ability to find a new job, rising 10 percentage
points from the previous quarter.
More Finance and Accounting Workers Believe Economy is
Weakening
- Almost a third of these workers (32%) believe that the economy
is weakening, a 10 percentage point increase from the third
quarter.
Majority of Workers Remain Confident in Their Employers
Future
- While decreasing from Q3, more than half of finance and
accounting workers (57%) remain confident in the future of their
current employers.
Workers Less Secure in Jobs
- Nearly three-fourths of finance and accounting employees (69%)
believe they are not likely to lose their jobs in the next 12
months, compared to 80 percent who indicated so in the third
quarter of 2013.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online
within the United States by Harris
Poll on behalf of Randstad Professionals from October 8-10, November
6-8 and December 3-5, 2013
among 3,113 adults 18 and older, of which 143 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. For complete survey methodology,
including weighting variables, please contact
lesly.cardec@randstadusa.com.
About Randstad Professionals
Randstad Professionals, formerly known as The Mergis Group, is a
leading professional placement firm that specializes in recruiting
for positions in finance and accounting, human resources and sales
and marketing. The firm provides recruiting services to Fortune 500
and small to mid-sized companies through its extensive network of
offices across the nation. For more information, please
visit www.mergisgroup.com.
About Randstad US
Randstad US is a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad Holding nv, a
$22.0 billion global provider of HR
services. As the third largest staffing organization in the U.S.,
Randstad holds top positions in permanent placement, office and
administrative, IT and accounting and finance. From professional
services, commercial staffing, recruitment process outsourcing, to
managed services and more, Randstad delivers a comprehensive range
of temporary, temporary-to-hire, permanent placement and outsourced
placement services. With its 5,660 employment experts, Randstad
puts an average of nearly 100,000 people to work in the U.S. each
week through its network of more than 900 branches and
client-dedicated locations.
Learn more at www.randstad.com and access Randstad's panoramic
U.S. 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 Randstad Professionals