Poll: Job creation near seven-year high

Job creation is lingering near a seven-year high, according to a survey Gallup released Wednesday.

In January, Gallup’s job creation index registered a score of +28, 1 point above the level from December, and just a few points below the seven-year high of +30 from September. 

The index rose sharply in early 2014, increasing from +19 in January of last year to +27 in May and June.

{mosads}Gallup’s job creation index encompasses net hiring activity. In January, for instance, 40 percent of employees said their employer was hiring workers and expanding the workforce. Twelve percent, by contrast, said their employer was letting workers go and cutting the workforce size. Forty-one percent said the size of their workforce wasn’t expected to change. 

More nongovernmental workers reported a higher job creation index, +29, than government employees, +19. 

The poll surveyed 16,501 adults between Jan. 2 to 31 with a 1-percentage-point margin of error.