According to the newest Regus Business Confidence Index, employers expect to hire new graduates, freelancers and remote workers, as they try to increase their employee numbers while remaining flexible and rapidly scalable in this economy.
Of the respondents, more than one-third say they plan to recruit new graduates. Another 47 percent of respondents say they anticipate hiring freelancers, and 44 percent plan to hire remote employees in the next two years. U.S. business confidence has dropped more than 20 percent, from 119 to 90 points, since April, which is the largest decline in the overall index.
"As business confidence drops and macro-economic conditions remain uncertain, hiring new graduates, freelance and remote workers is becoming an increasingly popular, risk-averse solution to increase headcount for U.S. and global businesses," says Guillermo Rotman, CEO of Regus Americas. "In addition, by taking advantage of technology solutions available in the U.S. market and abroad, it is even possible for small businesses to establish a low-risk, remote or contract presence in target markets without making lengthy commitments, allowing them to expand or withdraw depending on volatile market conditions."
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Global conditions are similar, the index shows. In fact, 64 percent of international companies say they plan to hire more employees over the next two years, regardless of the lower global business confidence. There is expected to be a concentration on freelancers, graduates and remote workers.
The index also finds that the proportion of global companies reporting revenue growth at 51 percent and rising profits at 42 percent is stagnant, a 1 percent growth from six months ago. Thirty-six percent of respondents say they are lowering expectations for recovery to the second half of 2012.
For companies that trade internationally, there is a higher business confidence index score at 120, compared to those with mainly domestic markets at 110.
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