Optimistic Outlook

Workers in finance and accounting jobs are more optimistic about the economy, and their work lives, than their counterparts in the general U.S. labor pool, according to the new 1Q 2006 Spherion Accounting & Finance Workers Report.

In a survey conducted online during the first quarter of 2006 by Harris Interactive for Fort Lauderdale-based Spherion, a recruiting and staffing firm, 36% of finance and accounting (FA) workers said the economy was "getting stronger," compared to 25% of all workers. Only 28% of FA workers thought the economy was "getting weaker," compared to 39% of all workers. That's a big reversal in attitude among FA workers since the fourth quarter of 2005, when 39% felt the economy was "getting weaker" and 44% of all workers agreed.

Finance and accounting workers were more confident in their "ability to find a new job"–62% versus 58% for all workers–and more confident about the "future of current employer"–71% versus 65%. Finally, 82% of FA workers said it was "not likely" that they would lose their jobs; 78% of all workers shared that sentiment.–Kate McBride