Sentiment on the front lines of the workforce improved for the fourth month in a row in February, although pessimistic workers continue to outnumber those with an optimistic outlook, according to a government report released Monday.

The diffusion index of the so-called economy watchers' views on the current state of the economy has reached 33.1, up 1.2 points from January, the Cabinet Office said. But the reading is the DI's 19th month in a row below the break-even point of 50.

A reading of 50 indicates that the respondents -- who include taxi and truck drivers, department store clerks and restaurant and shop owners -- generally believe the economy has not changed in the past three months.

The latest survey covered 2,050 workers nationwide and was conducted between Feb. 25 and Feb. 28. It had a response rate of 89.9 percent.

"Economic watchers' views are approaching a level where we can say the economy has hit bottom," a Cabinet Office economist said, explaining that a reading close to 50 indicates the economy is close to bottom. But the DI is still weak, despite its recent improvement from a low of 29.6 in November.

Workers' opinions rose particularly in regard to corporate moves and employment, with the respective DIs climbing 5 points to 34 and 4.7 points to 28.2, thanks to the improving export climate and progress in information technology inventory adjustments.

The index for the Okinawa region jumped 8.3 points to 51.2, its highest reading since the survey began in January 2000, buoyed by the recovering tourism industry.

The DI for the Tokai region rose 3.6 points to 37.3 and the DI for the Kyushu region 3.3 points to 34.4, thanks to rising exports and the IT sector.

But the index on household spending edged down 0.5 point to 33.5, due to the lingering fears of mad cow disease and the recent spate of meat mislabeling scandals.

The DI for economic conditions three months ahead, meanwhile, gained 2.5 points to 38.9 for the second monthly increase in a row, the office said.

Typical comments on current conditions included brighter outlooks by a Kyushu travel agency worker, who said that trips to both domestic and overseas destinations are rising, and by an employee at a Tokai electric machinery maker who said exports are rising.

A worker at a Kyushu electric machinery maker reported rapidly rising orders from major semiconductor makers. An Okinawa personnel placement agency worker said companies are beginning to hire people again.

In contrast, a supermarket worker in the Chugoku region said the beef mislabeling scandal hammered beef sales. An employee at an employment bureau in the Tohoku region said office closures and workforce cuts were continuing.