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Scattered Optimism for Future of Global Economy: LinkedIn Economic Confidence Outlook

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LinkedIn now has more than 300 million professionals around the world from nearly every major industry and job level, including many executives and managers. Together, they represent a wealth of professional knowledge, insights and opinions. With the health of local and global economies on everyone’s radar, we decided to tap into the minds of senior business leaders on LinkedIn to get a sense of where our economy is headed in the near future.

In the first quarter of 2014, we surveyed more than 14,000 senior business leaders on LinkedIn in the 16 countries around the world that represent almost two-thirds of global economic output. The survey consisted of questions designed to gauge leaders’  confidence level in the global economy and that of their local country, as well as their opinions about employment and staffing levels.

Below are highlights from this survey in our first ever LinkedIn Economic Confidence Outlook. This data represents the kind of knowledge we’ll be able to share as we continue to develop the Economic Graph. We will revisit this research on a quarterly basis to track how the insights of business leaders around the world change and evolve regarding the future of the global economy.

Summary:

Sentiment on the likelihood of a global recovery was mixed, but there were some signs of scattered optimism.

  • The majority of senior business leaders represented in the survey are concerned that their own countries will be left behind in any sort of a global economic recovery.
  • Net confidence in job growth was guarded when looking at the next 12 months, being limited to only a handful of countries and industries.
  • Senior business leaders from a majority of European countries, in particular, feel positive about their own country’s economy and the global economy.

We will return with our LinkedIn Economic Confidence Outlook in the second quarter of 2014. In the meantime, follow the Economic Graph Showcase Page for continuing coverage of issues impacting the global economy.

About The Data:

The survey was conducted in February 2014 of LinkedIn members director-level and above. Responding executives were located in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. These countries represent almost two-thirds of global economic output.

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