The Florida Employee Confidence Index dropped 8.5 points to 48.5 in December, the lowest level seen in the history of this survey, according to the latest Spherion(R) Employment Report. The monthly survey of Florida workers, conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Spherion Corporation, indicates that more workers are pessimistic about the economy, the job market and their ability to find a new job. While workers are less confident in their ability to find a job, more say they are likely to look for a new job in the next twelve months.

Results from the Florida Employment Report:

- Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of Florida workers believe that the economy is getting weaker, an increase of 18 percentage points from November.

- Nearly half (46 percent) of Florida workers believe there are fewer jobs available, up 12 percentage points from the previous month.

- While almost half (47 percent) of Florida workers are confident in their ability to find a new job, this is a decline of 15 percentage points since November.

- More than one-third (39 percent) of workers reported that they are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months, up eight percentage points from November.


"Although the Employee Confidence Index has reached a record-level low, the state's unemployment rate remains low and we are experiencing a healthy job growth rate. Inevitably, turmoil in the housing market, the rising cost of gas and the weakened economy has created a decrease in workers' macroeconomic confidence," said Paula Franco, branch manager for Spherion Staffing Services in Florida.

"Despite this decrease, companies are continuing to hire at a steady rate, especially in the areas of education and health services, leisure and hospitality and in business and professional services. Florida workers that plan to look for a