Confidence among Australian employers has declined for the fifth consecutive quarter to a record low, recruitment firm Hudson has today revealed.
The company’s national survey of 6,337 employers showed that employer confidence for Q2 2009 now sits at net 0.8 per cent, a four-fold drop compared with Q1 and a massive forty-seven-fold drop compared with confidence figures registered 12 months ago.
In raw figures, in Q2 18.6 per cent of employers intend to grow their permanent headcount, 63.6 per cent intend to keep current staffing levels while18.8 per cent plan to cut it.
Hudson Australia/ New Zealand’s CEO Mark Steyn said current uncertainty within the business community as a result of the global financing crisis has made it difficult for employers to make long-term strategic decisions.
“This is impacting hiring intentions and we see this sentiment continuing on the short-term at least,” he said.