Employment in financial activities continued to decline in March noting a loss of 43,000 jobs.  Since the finance industry’s peak in December 2006, it has dropped 495,000 jobs and more than half of these losses were seen in the past 7 months. 

March’s job losses occurred in credit intermediation (-15,000); real estate (-12,000); and securities, commodity contracts, and investments (-7,000).  On a positive note, in March alone 1,600 accounting jobs were added not only to meet tax season related demand but also due to the increase in demand for financial analysis due to the current economic climate.  Finance professionals continue to watch the market’s moves closely, in early April a sign of promise – the Dow Jones industrial average registered its best four weeks since 1933.  In addition, the industry’s unemployment rate remains below the national average at 6.8%.  Finance professionals continue to wait for the impending funds from the federal bailout of September 2008 to trickle down and spur credit markets.