Job seekers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire are clearly optimistic that the current market will offer enhanced professional opportunities, according to a survey conducted by BANKW Staffing, a regional staffing firm in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. More than half of respondents, 58.3%, indicated they were either “extremely confident” or “very confident” in their job prospects in the next six months.

Slightly more than 32% of respondents said they were “very confident” in their employment prospects over the next six months, while 25.9% replied as “extremely confident” in their employment prospects over that same window. Forty percent indicated they were either “extremely confident” or “very confident” of finding a job that fits their job experience and/or pays well.

The job marketplace has been highly transient, with 35.5% of respondents indicating they change jobs every two years or less. Another 22.5% replying to the survey indicated they change every three to four years. Respondents expressed a strong commitment to move on from their current job, with the expectation of finding a better career opportunity quickly. Of those responding, 37.8% indicated they are “extremely likely” to look for a new employment opportunity within the next 12 months. Another 15% replied they were “very likely” to look for a new job in the next year.

The survey also found information technology and finance were the top two sought-after industries, at 31% and 21% respectively. Good compensation and the need for more professional growth were the top two reasons offered by respondents for wanting to move on from their current jobs at 27.6% and 23.4% respectively.

The online survey was conducted in September 2018 in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It included 351 respondents.