Job availability net optimism at record-high “excellent,” pollster says
(Eagle News) — The joblessness rate dropped in the fourth quarter of 2017, the lowest recorded since 2004, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.
The 15.7 percent joblessness rate was 3.2 points below the 18.9 percent recorded in September 2017, and 5.9 points above the lowest rate recorded since March 2004, based on results from the survey done from December 8 to 16, 2017.
The SWS said that the December 2017 adult joblessness rate consisted of those who voluntarily left their old jobs, pegged at 8.3 percent; those who involuntarily lost their jobs, at 5.9 percent; and first-time job seekers, at 1.5 percent.
The survey found that adult labor force participation rate was at 72.1 percent, or an estimated 45.5 million adults.
Record-high job availability net optimism
Job availability net optimism was also at a record-high +41, classified by SWS as “excellent,” surpassing the previous record-high of +37 in December 2016.
According to SWS, optimism that there will be more jobs increased by 8 points, from the 45 percent recorded in September 2017.
Pessimism that there will be fewer jobs declined by 6 points from 18% in September, while the proportion of those who say there will be no change in job availability fell by 3 points from 27% in September.