The modern world is one where the understanding of money, how it works and how it moves, is of primary importance in comprehending the age we live in. Careers in finance and accounting plunge people into the nuances of the fuel of the economy itself, providing a unique perspective on the state of the world.

U.S. accounting and financial workers are more confident that the economy will stop getting weaker in the near future, according to the Accounting and Finance Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. accounting and finance workers.

The index rose 5.7 points to 48.0 in the second quarter of 2009, as fewer respondents thought that jobs were decreasing and expect to look for new work in the next year.

The Mergis group, which conducted the survey, said the increasing optimism was a positive sign, but warned that the road to economic recovery will be slow.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted that the number of accountants employed in the U.S. would grow at a rate of 18% from 2006 to 2016, while demand for financial analysts and personal financial advisors would grow by 37% over that time.