Results from the New York Employment Report:
* Eighty-three percent of workers surveyed report they believe that fewer jobs are available, an increase of 14 percentage points from January.
* Only one-third (33 percent) of workers are confident in their ability to find new jobs, a 15-percentage-point decrease from the previous month.
* More workers, 71 percent, believe the economy is getting weaker, an increase of five percentage points from January.
"Several reports predicted that the first quarter of 2009 was going to be a difficult one for workers and employers alike. With retail, manufacturing and the financial sectors still struggling and unemployment rising, it is not surprising that more workers lack confidence in their jobs and the economy overall," said Linda Perneau, vice president and general manager of Spherion Staffing Services. "However, there are recent signs that the stock market is stabilizing and we are seeing some levels of confidence rise across the country which may be a result of the economic stimulus package and proposed assistance for homeowners. We are also hopeful that job numbers will also start to rebound later in the year as well."