Business

Most Recent Releases

May 3, 2007Chicago Worker Confidence Cools as Finance Concerns Rise
  
After hitting a record high in March, the 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Chicago workers fell 4.5 points to 102.3. Heightened financial concerns largely impacted the monthly measure of worker confidence’s decline. Despite the drop, the Windy City’s latest reading is dramatically higher than its April 2006 reading of 90.6. The composite 
    Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, also fell 1.5 points in April to 107.5.

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/hudson_sectors_april_2007/healthcare_workers_confidence_weakens/46006-1-eng-US/healthcare_workers_confidence_weakens.jpg" />
                
                            May 3, 2007Healthcare Workers’ Confidence Weakens
  
The 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) for healthcare workers fell 6.8 points to 104.3 in April. A decrease in expected hiring, increase in expected layoffs and drop in job satisfaction drove the decline. The latest 
    Index is six points lower than last April’s reading of 110.3. The national 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all sectors, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April.
May 3, 2007Accounting & Finance Workers’ Confidence Plummets
  
After a jump in March, worker confidence among accounting and finance workers dropped in April, as the group’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) slid 17.6 points to 104.0. More workers saying their finances are getting worse and decreased job satisfaction had the greatest impact on the fall. The latest reading for this group of workers is 6.8 points lower than last April’s reading of 110.8. 

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/hudson_sectors_april_2007/nyc_worker_confidence_remains_steady_in_april/46036-1-eng-US/nyc_worker_confidence_remains_steady_in_april.jpg" />
                
                            May 3, 2007NYC Worker Confidence Remains Steady in April
  
The 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) for New York City held steady in April, slipping just .3 points from its record high to 98.7. The latest monthly measure of worker confidence for the Big Apple is about nine points higher than last April’s 89.6. The composite 
    Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, fell 1.5 points in April to 107.5.

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/hudson_sectors_april_2007/san_francisco_workers_expect_less_hiring_more_layoffs/46051-1-eng-US/san_francisco_workers_expect_less_hiring_more_layoffs.jpg" />
                
                            May 3, 2007San Francisco Workers Expect Less Hiring, More Layoffs
  
After a substantial jump in March, the 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) for San Francisco recorded a minimal gain of .8 points to 107.3 in April. Improved financial sentiments were offset by less expected hiring and more expected layoffs. The city’s latest measure of worker confidence is stronger than last April’s 105.8. The composite 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April.

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/hudson_sectors_april_2007/job_security_concerns_dampen_worker_confidence_in_twin_cities/46066-1-eng-US/job_security_concerns_dampen_worker_confidence_in_twin_cities.jpg" />
                
                            May 3, 2007Job Security Concerns Dampen Worker Confidence in Twin Cities
  
Worker confidence in Minneapolis-St. Paul cooled from a record high in April, as the 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) for the Twin Cities fell 7.2 points to 106.9. All factors contributing to the measure of worker confidence declined; however the latest reading is well above last Aprils’ 98.9. 

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/hudson_sectors_april_2007/better_finances_hiring_boost_philadelphia_worker_confidence/46081-1-eng-US/better_finances_hiring_boost_philadelphia_worker_confidence.jpg" />
                
                            May 3, 2007Better Finances, Hiring Boost Philadelphia Worker Confidence
  
Worker confidence in Philadelphia continued climbing in April, as the city’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) jumped 9.9 points to 108.6. This marks the city’s sixth consecutive month of improved employee sentiment. Greater hiring expectations coupled with improved perceptions of finances triggered the latest rise. Philadelphia’s most recent 
    Index is well above last April’s reading of 102.6. In sharp contrast, the composite 
    Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, fell 1.5 points in April to 107.5.
May 3, 2007Confidence Among Florida Worker Falters
  
Florida workers felt less confident in April, as the state’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell one point to 120.1. 
May 3, 2007Job Security Concerns Hurts OH Worker Confidence
  
Ohio worker confidence fell in April, as the state’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) slid 6.4 points to 99.1. Almost all factors contributing to the 
    Index recorded negative movement. The state’s latest 
    Index is also lower than last April, when it was 100.4. The national 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April. 
May 3, 2007CA Workers’ Confidence Falls as Concerns Over Layoffs Continue
  
Worker confidence in California decreased in April as the state’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell 2.7 points to 110.2. An increase in expected layoffs and less job satisfaction drove the decline, but were offset by greater hiring expectations. California’s latest 
    Index is also below last April’s reading of 115.1. The national 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April. 
May 3, 2007Job Loss Concerns Hurt DC Worker Confidence Again
  
Worker confidence fell in Washington, DC, as the city’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) descended 1.3 points to 108.1 in April. A decrease in hiring expectations and concern over job loss contributed to the fall. The city’s latest measure of worker confidence is down substantially from last April, when DC’s 
    Index registered 118.4. The composite 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April.

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/hudson_sectors_april_2007/increased_job_loss_concerns_hurts_manufacturing_workers_confidence/45991-1-eng-US/increased_job_loss_concerns_hurts_manufacturing_workers_confidence.jpg" />
                
                            May 3, 2007Increased Job Loss Concerns Hurts Manufacturing Workers’ Confidence
  
Confidence among manufacturing workers dropped in April as the sector’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell 4.4 points to 94.4. Increased worry over job loss and decreased job satisfaction drove the decline. The latest reading is virtually unchanged from last April’s reading of 95.1. The national 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all sectors, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April. 
May 3, 2007Dallas Worker Confidence Hits Record High in April
  
Rising for the third consecutive month, the 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) for Dallas climbed 5.9 points to a record high of 123.9 in April. The city’s latest measure of worker confidence is dramatically higher than one year ago, when it was just 102.1. In contrast, the composite 
    Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, fell 1.5 points in April to 107.5.
May 3, 2007Financial Concerns Hurt Boston Worker Confidence For Second Month in a Row
  
Boston workers’ confidence took another hit this April as the city’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) dropped 3.1 points to 94.2. Heightened financial concerns contributed to the second consecutive decline in the monthly measure of worker confidence. Boston’s latest 
    Index is nearly 10 points shy of its April 2006 reading of 103.7. The composite 
    Index, which is based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers nationwide, also fell 1.5 points in April to 107.5.
May 3, 2007Personal Finance Sentiments Improve for Legal Workers
  
Confidence among workers in the legal sector jumped in April as the sector’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) increased 9.9 points to 123.0. 
May 3, 2007IT Worker Confidence Hits Record High
  
Confidence among IT professionals skyrocketed in April, as the group’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) jumped 12.9 points to 122.6. An increase in expected hiring, decrease in expected layoffs and greater job satisfaction drove the rise. The latest reading is also up 12.7 points from last April’s reading of 109.9. The national 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across all sectors, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April. 
May 3, 2007Texas Worker Confidence Slips After Hitting Record High
  
Confidence among Texas workers waned, as the state’s 
    Hudson Employment Index (SM) dropped 5.7 points to 125.6 in April. A decrease in job satisfaction coupled with worsened financial sentiments drove the fall. The latest reading is up from last April’s 
    Index of 119.0. The national 
    Index, based on responses from approximately 9,000 workers across the country, fell 1.5 points to 107.5 in April. 

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/worker_confidence_eases_in_april_following_record_high/31097-1-eng-US/worker_confidence_eases_in_april_following_record_high.jpg" />
                
                            May 2, 2007Worker Confidence Eases in April Following Record High
  
Worker confidence edged lower in April, as the Hudson Employment Index (SM) fell 1.5 points to 107.5. Despite the decline, the April figure is among the highest from the past year. Financial concerns and lower levels of job satisfaction triggered the drop.

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/discover_small_business_watch_small_business_economic_confidence_drops_sharply/30786-1-eng-US/discover_small_business_watch_small_business_economic_confidence_drops_sharply.jpg" />
                
                            April 30, 2007Small Business Economic Confidence Drops Sharply
  
Economic confidence among small business owners decreased in April, driven largely by a deteriorating outlook on economic conditions for their businesses, rising insecurity about the U.S. economy and increased cash flow issues, according to surveys conducted for this month’s Discover® Small Business Watch (SM).

                    <img src="http://ec2-3-16-228-157.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/var/plain/storage/images/_aliases/wide_266/public_content/business_economy/top_stories/employers_recognize_work_life_balance_but_do_employees/26390-1-eng-US/employers_recognize_work_life_balance_but_do_employees.jpg" />
                
                            April 18, 2007Employers Recognize Work-Life Balance
  
Employers seem to appreciate their employees' need for flexibility, as more than three-quarters (78 percent) of the work force rates their employer favorably when it comes to allowing them to take extra time for personal matters.