AMERICA EMPLOYED

Employers: Job Market Trending Up, Accelerating

Employers: Job Market Trending Up, Accelerating

Nearly 3 out of 4 Businesses See Improving Situation 

Optimism Higher Than 2016

Express Employment Professionals released new survey results today revealing that employers have overwhelmingly positive perceptions of their local job markets.

In a survey of 1,951 businesses, respondents were asked, "As an employer, what is your perception of the current employment environment in your market?"

Nearly three quarters, 74 percent, said the environment is "trending up," while 26 percent said trending down.

That is a 10-percentage point improvement compared to results from a similar survey in the fourth quarter of 2016.

"This is a very encouraging sign for the new year," said Bob Funk, CEO of Express, and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. "We all know that despite the lower unemployment rate, too many men and women in America have been shoved to the sidelines and left the job market. Continued job market improvement is essential to getting more people back to work, especially those who have been jobless for so long that they are no longer counted in the 'official' unemployment rate.

"This improvement could be a sign that the long, slow recovery is finally picking up some momentum, or it could represent employers' optimism about the new president and administration."

The survey of 1,951 businesses, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, covers hiring trends for the first quarter of 2017.  

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About Robert A. Funk
Robert A. "Bob" Funk is chairman and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Headquartered in Oklahoma City, the international staffing company has more than 770 franchises in the U.S., Canada and South Africa. Under his leadership, Express has put more than 6 million people to work worldwide. Funk served as the Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen of the Federal Reserve and was also Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

About Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated $3.05 billion in sales and employed a record 510,000 people in 2016. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually.

For More Information:

Sheena Karami  
Director of Corporate Communications and PR  
Express Employment Professionals  
(405) 840-5000  
sheena.karami@expresspros.com