The LinkedIn Economic Confidence Outlook survey conducted in 2014 reveals a decline in optimism among global business leaders regarding the global economy, their country’s economy, and hiring expectations. The sentiment of executives from 13,000 responses across various countries indicates a noticeable drop in confidence compared to previous quarters. Specific sectors like staffing and architecture/engineering expressed decreased optimism, while overall industry perspectives remained stable.

2. About the Survey
The LinkedIn Economic Confidence Outlook is a survey of Global
Business Leaders. The survey was conducted during February, May
and September 2014. More than 13,000 executives per wave from
various industries responded to each survey.
The Economic Confidence Outlook comprises the following measures:
Global Economy: Business leaders’ views of the global economy
Country Economy: Business leaders’ views of their countries economy
Perceptions of Industry: Business leaders’ views of their industry
Perceptions of Company: Business leaders’ views of their company
Hiring expectations: Business leaders’ hiring plans at their company
Executives were located in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the
Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States.
2

3. Positive sentiment towards the global economy continues to wane
10 19
71% 71%
amongst executives in almost all countries
% of professionals who think the global economy will get better
12
68%
12
63%
Global Economy Optimism
10
51%
18 20
48%
47%
8
44%
6 19
39% 39%
17
37%
4
35% 35%
7
27% 26%
61%
52%
56%
51%
41%
30%
27%
36%
33%
20% 20%
31% 32%
28%
19%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
India
Netherlands
UK
Spain
Sweden
Belgium
Italy
USA
Japan
Germany
Switzerland
Australia
Canada
Brazil
France
2014 Q2 2014 Q3
Question: Over the next 6 months, do you think the global economy will get better, worse or stay the same? ©2014 LinkedIn Corporation

4. Positive sentiment towards their country’s economy appears to be
taking a negative turn amongst executives in most countries
90%
% of professionals who think their country economy will get better
11
73%
8
66%
58%
Country Economy Optimism
22 11
47%
46% 45%
11
44%
22
41%
12
37% 35%
19
28%
25%
5 4
13%
10%
87%
62%
58% 58%
25%
35%
44%
33%
19%
25%
37%
19%
25%
8%
14%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
India
UK
Netherlands
Spain
Germany
Japan
USA
Sweden
Italy
Belgium
Canada
Switzerland
Australia
France
Brazil
2014 Q2 2014 Q3
Question: Over the next 6 months, do you think the your country’s economy will get better, worse or stay the same? ©2014 LinkedIn Corporation

5. Positive sentiment towards hiring appears to be decreasing slightly
4
64%
% of professionals who think their company will increase staffing levels
51%
6
47% 47%
45%
Hiring Optimism
40% 40%
3
4
4
36% 36% 36% 35% 35%
32% 32%
30%
60%
50%
41%
46%
42%
40% 39%
32%
39%
32%
35%
38%
30%
28%
26%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
India
UK
Germany
USA
Sweden
Canada
Spain
Switzerland
Australia
Japan
Netherlands
Brazil
Italy
Belgium
France
2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
among executives in many countries
Question: Over the next 12 months, do you think staffing levels in your organization will increase, decrease or stay the same?
4
4
3

6. Industry Optimism

7. Executives remain equally optimistic about their industry QoQ;
staffing, architecture/engineering, retail, & media are down slightly
5
85% 84%
78%
5 5
4
76% 76% 75% 74% 73% 73% 72% 71% 71% 70%
65%
80%
82%
73%
71%
73% 74%
71%
76%
74%
68%
70%
67%
69%
64%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Staffing
Tech - Software
Aero/Auto/Transport
Arch&Eng
Tech - Hardware
Prof Svcs
Manuf/Indust
Telecomm
HC & Pharma
Retail & Consumer
Oil & Energy
Media & Ent
FinServ&Ins
Gov't/Educ/NP
2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Industry Optimism
% of professionals who are optimistic about their industry growth
Question: Over the next 6 months, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the growth prospects of your industry?
4

8. Executives remain equally optimistic about their company QOQ;
staffing, architecture/engineering, and hardware are down slightly
84%
82%
79% 79% 79% 79% 78% 78%
76% 76%
74% 74% 73%
65%
81% 81%
75% 76%
78% 77% 76% 76%
72%
76%
71%
77%
71%
65%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Staffing
Tech - Software
Arch&Eng
Manuf/Indus
Prof Svcs
Retail & Cons
Aero/Auto/Transport
HC & Pharma
Tech - Hardware
FinServ& Ins
Media & Ent
Telecomm
Oil & Energy
Gov't/Educ/NP
2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Company Optimism
% of professionals who are optimistic about their company growth
Question: Over the next 6 months, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the growth prospects of your company?
3
4 4
3

9. Country Optimism

10. Australia
39%
25%
31%
36%
25%
35%
35%
23%
39%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation

11. 25%
30%
28%
32%
37%
48%
31%
43%
51%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Belgium

12. 38%
14%
28%
35%
10%
27%
41%
17%
32%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Brazil

13. 35%
40%
36%
37%
40%
32%
40%
35%
36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Canada

14. 26%
8%
19%
30%
13%
26%
30%
20%
36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
France

15. 41%
25%
20%
47%
47%
39%
44%
50%
43%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Germany

16. 60%
87%
61%
64%
90%
71%
60%
51%
53%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
India

17. 30%
19%
27%
32%
41%
47%
30%
34%
44%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Italy

18. 33%
35%
32%
36%
43%
46%
39%
36%
45%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Japan

19. 39%
58%
51%
40%
58%
63%
33%
53%
58%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Spain

20. 44%
42%
33%
41%
45%
51%
42%
50%
55%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Sweden

21. 32%
20%
19%
36%
28%
37%
33%
25%
41%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
Switzerland

22. 35%
58%
52%
35%
69%
66%
71%
30%
67%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
The Netherlands

23. 50%
62%
56%
51%
73%
68%
49%
71%
67%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
The United Kingdom

24. 44%
45%
45%
44%
43%
46%
36%
47%
40%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Global Economy
(% Better)
Country Economy
(% Better)
Hiring
(% Increase)
2014 Q1 2014 Q2 2014 Q3
©2014 LinkedIn Corporation
The United States of America

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