NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Randstad has
compiled key jobs data to reflect the overall picture of the US
employment landscape in 2011. This report captures 2011 highlights
as it relates to: job creation, public and private sector jobs, the
temporary help services industry and the professional service
sectors. In addition, the Randstad Employee Confidence &
Employee Attachment Indices have been included to provide a
snapshot of US worker sentiments over the year and predictions for
next year.
A recent online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf
of Randstad from December 12-14, 2011
among 1,222 employed adults ages 18 and older in the U.S., reveals
that the Randstad Employee Confidence Index slightly decreased by
0.6 points to 47.4 in December, indicating a slight decline in
worker confidence. Overall, employee confidence levels in 2011 have
continued to hover around the 50.0 mark -- indicating positive
confidence. In fact, 2011 began with a slightly elevated Employee
Confidence Index compared to previous years and remained above its
historical low point of 40.1 in February
2009. The Index, which measures workers' confidence in both
their personal employment situation and sentiment in the economic
environment, shows that more workers have remained optimistic about
not only their job security, but also their personal employment
situations.
On the same note, the 2011 index has somewhat mirrored the
movement seen in many economic reports. Many businesses and
consumers alike are feeling uncertain in terms of a recovery due to
mixed economic signals and because of that, we have seen worker
confidence ebb and flow throughout 2011.
Additional highlights include:
- 2011 confidence high-point: May (53.9); 2011 confidence
low-point: August (41.0)
- Job transition Index hit highest point ever in January 2011 (40 percent)
- Job Security Index reached lowest point in August 2011 (66 percent)
"As we look back at 2011, we see that employees' concerns
changed throughout the year as the economy remained uncertain and
employment situations across various industries contracted and
expanded," says Joanie Ruge, senior
vice president and chief employment analyst of Randstad Holding US.
"Economic growth has remained relatively modest, posting gains in
several key sectors, including engineering, IT, healthcare and even
finance and accounting. Despite the slight pullback this
month, overall temporary help services has continued to show
increases, and we see this trend continuing into 2012. This year
has largely been associated with reports around economic
uncertainty, and the U.S. presidential election and the European
debt crisis have added to this sentiment. But let's keep in mind
that current economic conditions did not come about overnight, and
it will take time to create the amount of jobs necessary to
push down unemployment. I do believe, however that we will see more
job creation in the beginning of this year. However, according to
economists, the economy will remain vulnerable to possible setbacks
due to reports around the global economy potentially entering a
recession."
2011 Job Creation:
- Job creation continues to be slow but steady as an uncertain
economy continues to recover
- 1.9 million jobs in the private sector were created in
2011
- Since December 2009, retail has
continued to add jobs at an average rate of 14,000 jobs per
month(1)
2011 Private Sector:
- Private sector jobs were up overall in 2011, with steady gains
each month
- The private sector has now recovered 33 percent of jobs lost
during the period of January 2008 to
February 2010(1)
- Employment in the private sector has increased steadily each
month, adding 1.9 million jobs during 2011(1)
2011 Government Jobs:
- Government agencies announced more than 280,000 job cuts in
2011
- Many public job cuts can be attributed to jobs lost in the U.S.
Postal Service, and state and local governments(1)
- Employment in both state government and local government has
been trending down since the second half of 2008(1)
2011 Temporary Jobs:
- Temporary help sector saw an uptick in the second half of 2011,
averaging 15,000 jobs per month from July to November with a dip of
7,500 jobs in December(1)
- While overall temporary job numbers increased in 2011,
involuntary part-time workers, or those employed part-time for
economic reasons, dropped(1)
- Although still below 2000's peak of more than two percent of
the total workforce, the number of temporary workers in the U.S.
labor market is trending upwards(2)
2011 Professional & Business Services:
- Demand for jobs in the professional and business services
sectors continues to increase
- Over the past 12 months, healthcare has added 315,000 jobs, for
an increase of 2.3 percent in 2011(1)
- While professional service jobs in general were up, financial
services cut more than 56,000 jobs in 2011(3)
- Engineering, Information technology and healthcare continue to
be high-growth industries with low unemployment rates
Predictions for 2012 – Randstad Attachment Index:
Randstad's Employee Attachment Index, measured quarterly, provides
insights into how attached employees are to their employers based
on employee engagement and retention levels. With the ups and downs
of the economy, workers have very mixed emotions for 2012. While 47
percent report being optimistic and almost three-fourths believe
their companies have great futures, a sizeable 20 percent predict
they will lose their job in 2012. Other findings include:
- 35 percent of employees reported that they are concerned their
benefits will be reduced; while even more at 48 percent, predict it
will happen in 2012
- 41 percent predict their companies will lay people off in
2012
- More workers are actually optimistic about 2012 with almost
half (47 percent) predicting they will get a raise
- 40 percent predict their companies will expand their workforce
in 2012
(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report
(2) Staffing Industry Analysts
(3) The ADP National Employment Report
Methodology for Randstad Employee Confidence
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on
behalf of Randstad from December 12-14,
2011 among 1,222 employed adults ages 18 and older. This
online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no
estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For
complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please
click here.
Methodology for Randstad Employee Attachment Index
The Randstad Employee Attachment Index is comprised of
findings from quarterly waves of research targeting employees. This
is the third wave of research that has been fielded with a national
sample of 3,022 adults aged 18 and older who are currently employed
full-time from Ipsos' U.S. online panel. The survey was conducted
between October 6 - 12, 2011.
Weighting was used to balance demographics and ensure samples
reflect the U.S. population of working adults. All sample surveys
and polls may be subject to sources of error, including, but not
limited to coverage error and measurement error.
About Randstad
Randstad is an $18.8 billion
global provider of HR services and the second largest staffing
organization in the world. From temporary staffing to permanent
placement to inhouse, professionals, search & selection, and HR
Solutions, Randstad holds top positions around the world and puts
approximately 27,500 corporate employees to work from its nearly
4,200 branches and inhouse locations in 43 countries. Founded in
1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the
Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE
Euronext Amsterdam. Learn more at www.randstad.com.
SOURCE Randstad