Surveying the Securities Industry Job Market - 2006

We just completed our Annual Surveys of both Candidates and Employers to help us get a better handle on the employment related needs of both groups.

Candidate Survey:

Here is a summary of what we found from our Job Candidates:

Here are the top 5 responses to What Producers are looking for, in a new Firm

1. Culture at New Firm
2. Office Geographical Location/Commute Time
3. Higher Payout
4. Financial Condition of New versus Current Firm
5. Technology Improvements at New Firm

Non-producers had different priorities as evidenced by these top 5 responses:

1. Higher Salary/Compensation
2. More Opportunity for Career Advancement
3. More Career Development/Training Opportunities
4. Culture at New Firm
5. Financial Condition of Current Firm

So how are Job Candidates going about finding new opportunities? Here are the top 5 job seeking methods listed in order of effectiveness. (We are pleased to report that internet jobs boards rank just behind the ìalways importantî Networking method!)

1. Networking with Associates
2. Internet Job Boards
3. Third Party Industry Recruiters
4. Security Firm Career Centers
5. Trade Publication Advertising

Employer Survey Results
There seems to be a consensus when it comes to the best methods for employer and job seeker to connect! Here is the Firm response to their top 3 Candidate sourcing tactics:

1. Referral Programs
2. Internet Job Boards
3. Third Party Recruiters

Firms are looking to hire people in the following top 5 categories:

1. Retail Brokers
2. Sales/Branch Managers
3. Broker Trainees
4. Registered Broker - Institutional
5. Insurance Advisor

As far as the hiring outlook for 2006, over 88% of Firms surveyed indicated that they would be hiring MORE people than they did last year. This compares to a 73% response to the same question for last year, so it appears that employers are bullish on the hiring outlook for this year ñ in fact this is the most upbeat response since we began conducting this survey in 2002. This leads us to predict that the best post-9/11 hiring year may be in store for us in 2006.