Brighter outlook held by job hunters, poll shows

Jobhunting optimism is on the rise this month as 19 percent
of respondents to a poll said now is a good time to search for
opportunity as compared to only 12 percent saying so last month,
according to Politico.

Despite 78 percent of the people polled saying it presently is a
bad time to search for a job, that figure checks in as the lowest
metric since Autumn 2008. Results showed a sharp discrepancy among
genders as 23 percent of men said now is a good time to find a job
while 15 percent of women said now is a good time to be hunting for
work.

The labor market of Eastern Pennsylvania showed signs of
strength earlier this year, according to a state study cited by The
Morning Call. More so than any month in the past three years,
January showed more residents of the Lehigh Valley region were
employed, indicating the regional rebound is continuing.

“Things are not fantastic, but we’re seeing enough steady
improvement that the rising tide will lift all boats,” labor and
industry analyst Steven Zellers told the news source.

An economist released a report in January stating growth among
local businesses hiring and a slowing number of cutting staff. That
report was supported by the state poll released on Friday.