According to the grape vine, job seekers are optimistic about hiring for the New Year. Perhaps its just part of the fervor surrounding the going out of one year and the prospects of the incoming New Year, especially as far as hiring is concerned. Data seems to support job seeker's optimism with a relatively small but an increase, nonetheless, is the consumer confidence index.
With a modest upward gain to the tune of 52.9, you would think that is hardly a consumer confidence figure worth bragging about. On the other hand, given how bad the consumer confidence index figures have been throughout 2009, any positive seems to get everyone excited. This excitement may be a little premature as as good consumer confidence index is 90 or better. As you can see a consumer confidence figure of 52.9 is barely over the 50% line in reference to a good consumer confidence figure.
So why are job seekers and consumers, in general, seemingly excited. The short answer is most of the excitement is likely to be emotional driven. Again, after a terrible 18 months with the economic recession, some may just feel the need to change spirits irrespective of the presence of economic drivers. At the same time, employers are expected to hire coming out of the gate for 2010, especially where part-time and contract work is concerned. Moreover, some industries such as Information Technology, Manufacturing and Professional Services are looking up as far as full time hiring is concerned.
Although there is no evidence of the presence of large scale economic drivers to influence the hiring of 2 million jobs (to keep unemployment from rising), there is, still, room for optimism. Such optimism is emotional fueled coupled with some silver linings in the data. In the end, whatever the reason(s) - job seekers are optimistic about hiring for the New Year. Now if we can ratchet up this enthusiasm across the board to include more employers and job seekers than we might be on the verge of hiring tidal wave to start out 2010. What a great way to start out the New Year! 