NEW YORK, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Randstad
Employee Confidence Index increased for the second consecutive
month in February, rising 1.5 points to 53.9. This marks the
highest level of employee confidence recorded since May of last
year, with employees feeling more confident in their personal
employment situations and the macroeconomic environment
overall.
"We are very pleased to see our U.S. Employee Confidence Index
jump start 2012 on a high note," said Joanie Ruge, senior vice president and chief
employment analyst for Randstad US Holding. "The first two months
of the year have both registered slightly higher than the indices
reported in January and February of 2011. In fact, our latest Index
is consistent with other positive economic indicators, such as job
creation, a decrease in unemployment claims, and the U.S. economy
growing a higher-than-anticipated three percent in the final three
months of 2011. Many watch employee confidence indicators
because steady increases may signal rises in consumer
spending—which makes up 70 percent of economic activity. But, with
rising gas prices and continued concerns over the European debt
crisis, many U.S. workers and employers, remain cautiously
optimistic until they see more of a steady stream of positive news
over the next few months."
The online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf
of Randstad. It surveyed 1,453 employed U.S. adults, aged 18 and
over between February 15-17,
2012.
A Look Inside the Report:
Confidence in Overall Situation:
- Employee Confidence is at its highest level since May of 2011.
Prior to this time, the highest score was recorded in October of
2007, with worker confidence recorded at 56.4. This increase over
the last few months indicates that U.S. workers are feeling more
positive about their personal employment situations and in the
overall economy.
Confidence in Macroeconomic Environment:
- While more confident overall, employees are split on the
strength of the economy, with 30 percent reporting that the economy
is getting better; 37 percent feel it is staying the same; and 33
percent believe the economy is getting weaker
- Nineteen percent of those surveyed believe there are more jobs
available, up one percent from last month and six percent from
December 2011
Confidence in Personal Employment Situation:
- Forty-three percent of employees surveyed are confident in
their ability to find a job, up six percent from January
- Overall, employees continue to remain confident in the future
of their employers, with 59 percent indicating their confidence—a
two percent decrease from the previous month
Job Security:
- Sixty-nine percent of employees feel it is unlikely they will
lose their jobs. This number is down three percent from last
month
Job Transition:
- For the third consecutive month, slightly more than one-third
of workers (34 percent) believe it is likely that they will look
for a new job within the next 12 months
- More than half of workers surveyed (53 percent) are not likely
to look for new positions in the next year
About the Randstad Employment Report
About Harris Interactive
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on
behalf of Randstad from February 15-17,
2012 among 1,453 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.
About Randstad
Randstad is a $22.5 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 has
approximately 31,100 corporate employees working from its nearly
4,700 branches and inhouse locations in 40 countries. Founded in
1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the
Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE
Euronext Amsterdam (RAND.AS).
Learn more at http://www.randstad.com.
SOURCE Randstad