M. Wolfe Financial Quotations

On the heels of a conservative start to the year, managers are feeling more comfortable putting their 2006 hiring plans in gear. ... lower unemployment rates and the growing demand for skilled labor in certain sectors such as health care, financial services and IT are strong indications that the economy is growing steadily.

Rising energy prices and interest rates may overshadow the optimism employees have in the labor market in the coming months. While we don't expect worker confidence to fall dramatically, we are likely to see a softening as people struggle with greater day-to-day financial strain.

They are down to the base needs so they are not focused on their bigger picture, long term financial needs.

Clearly, financial guidance would be very useful at this stage since we're really shooting in the dark. If we get nothing more than financial guidance that would all be just a bonus to me.

Heading into the new year, across-the-board improvements are giving rise to a more hopeful workforce, consistent with a growing demand for skilled labor and increased financial confidence. Multiple signs indicate that improving expectations about the employment market will jump start 2006.

The financial model is terrific; it's a fixed-cost operation,