For the sixth time in the last seven months, confidence in the labor markets tumbled during April. The Rasmussen Employment Index (formerly the Hudson Index) fell a point in April to 82.9. That’s down twenty-four points from a year ago and once again establishes a new all-time low for the five year history of the Index (see crosstabs).

Twenty-two percent (22%) of workers say their firms are still hiring new workers. That’s unchanged from a month ago but the number whose firms are laying people off jumped two points to 20%. The number of workers worried about losing their job jumped two points in April as well, to 22%.

Forty-two percent (42%) of American workers say their own finances are good or excellent while 38% say fair and 18% poor. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say their finances are getting better while 47% say the opposite.

Thirty-five percent (35%) of private sector managers say their firms are hiring while just 22% say they are laying people off.

Government employees are more bullish about their own finances than either entrepreneurs or private sector employees. Those who work for companies with more than 500 employees are far more upbeat than those who work for smaller firms. A related survey, the Discover Small Business Watch found that the confidence of Small Business Owners has plummeted in recent months.

The Rasmussen Employment Index is based upon monthly interviews with approximately 9,000 employees each month.

A related survey, the Rasmussen Consumer Index, has found consumer and investor confidence near the lowest levels of the past seven years.

See Employment Index history.