Survey: Worker confidence up slightly, still weak
A new survey indicates Ohio workers’ confidence in their jobs strengthened slightly in August, the same month the state’s unemployment rate ticked up to its highest level in about 16 years.
Staffing firm Spherion Corp. reported that its Ohio Employee Confidence Index grew 3.2 points to 45.3 in August, up from 42.1 in July. While overall confidence improved slightly, that’s still several points below 50, the base score considered positive.
According to the survey, about 63 percent of workers were confident in the future of their current employer, up 5 percentage points from July. Those with unemployment worries remained in the minority as 15 percent said they expected to lose their jobs, while 72 percent see job loss as unlikely.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported on Friday that the state’s unemployment rate in August hit 7.4 percent, up from 7.2 percent in July and the highest level since October 1992.
The survey also found that fewer workers are planning to hit the classifieds than in recent months absolutely free credit report. The share of surveyed workers expecting to stay put for the next year jumped 17 percentage points over the month to 62 percent. Less than one in three surveyed workers, 31 percent, said they expect to look for a new job in the next year.
The survey, conducted for the staffing firm by researcher Harris Interactive Inc. (NASDAQ:HPOL) from Aug. 6-8 and Aug. 12-14 polled 2,861 adults, 145 of whom resided in Ohio.