Senior executives in the global financial services industry, who have lost their jobs during the economic downturn, are among those who believe it will take at least four months to find new employment, according to a new survey, with almost half considering a return to academia as they sit out the recession.

According to figures from recruitment consultant Korn/Ferry, which polled almost 1000 unemployed executives across a range of industries and geographies, 83% of respondents predict that it will take out-of-work executives more than four months for their next opportunity, with almost 43% believing it will take seven months or longer.