CEO Confidence Dip Won’t Stall Hiring This Year
04/07/2010
The Conference Board Measure of CEO Confidence, which had increased slightly in the fourth quarter of 2009, has dipped two points in the first quarter of 2010, to 62 from 64 at year's end 2009. Yet, it's not a huge drop and a reading of more than 50 points reflects more positive than negative responses, notes the Conference Board.
"CEOs continue to rate current economic and industry conditions favorably, but expectations are that the pace of growth will not pick up in the months ahead. Hiring plans are improved from last year, but less than a third expect employment levels to increase this year," says Lynn Franco, director of The Conference Board Consumer Research Center.
CEOs' assessment of current economic conditions is slightly less favorable, with 71 percent stating conditions have improved compared to six months ago, down from 75 percent last quarter. When it comes to assessing their own industries, business leaders' attitudes improved, with 59 percent claiming conditions are now better, compared with 54 percent last quarter.
Looking ahead six months, CEOs are slightly less optimistic. Approximately 52 percent of business leaders expect economic conditions to improve in the next six months, down from 58 percent last quarter. Expectations for their own industries are also less optimistic, with 42 percent of CEOs anticipating an improvement in the months ahead, down from 45 percent last quarter.
However,m more than 30 percent of CEOs anticipate an increase in employment levels in their industry, up significantly from less than 3 percent a year ago. The proportion of CEOs who anticipate a decrease in hiring plummeted to 22 percent from 86 percent a year ago.
Project Announcements
Kikkoman Foods Plans Jefferson, Wisconsin, Operations
04/26/2024
BWX Technologies Expands Cambridge, Ontario, Nuclear Production Operations
04/26/2024
Greenheck Group Plans Knoxville, Tennessee, Operations
04/26/2024
Local Bounti Plans Pasco, Washington, Indoor Agricultural Operations
04/26/2024
Innovative Construction Group Plans Siler City, North Carolina, Production Operations
04/26/2024
Crystal Window and Door Systems Plans Mansfield, Texas, Headquarters-Production Operations
04/25/2024
Most Read
-
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
Q4 2023
-
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Q3 2023
-
38th Annual Corporate Survey: Are Unrealized Predictions of an Economic Slump Leading Small to Mid-Size Companies to Put Off Expansion Plans?
Q1 2024
-
Making Hybrid More Human in 2024
Q1 2024
-
Manufacturing Momentum Is Building
Q1 2024
-
20th Annual Consultants Survey: Clients Prioritize Access to Skilled Labor, Responsive State & Local Government
Q1 2024
-
Public-Private Partnerships Incentivize Industrial Development
Q1 2024