Employee and job-seekers’ confidence in their ability to secure and retain employment surged this quarter, according to a report by Vaco, a global staffing firm.

The first-quarter Vaco Talent Pulse Report found that 73% of job seekers and employees are currently confident in their ability to get and hold a job, up from 70% in the fourth quarter of 2023. In addition, 43% of job seekers and employees are extremely confident in their ability to get and keep a job, up from 39% in the third and fourth quarters of 2023.

“We’re encouraged to see such strong confidence levels among professionals in the first quarter of 2024,” Kyle Allen, executive VP of sales and recruiting at Vaco, said in a press statement. “The economy appears to be stabilizing, and this is translating into increased optimism across the board. As we continue through the year, it will be important for organizations to engage with their workforce and adopt strategic approaches to recruiting and motivating top talent.”

Other findings in the report include:

• Confidence regarding financial improvement opportunities also increased this quarter, with 45% of job seekers and employees feeling extremely confident about their ability to improve their financial situation, compared to 37% in the fourth quarter of 2023.
• Also, confidence levels in career advancement remained resilient; 50% of employees expressed extreme confidence in their ability to advance in their careers in the next year.

For the report, Vaco surveyed 5,394 people across the US and Canada. The polls took place through Vaco's LinkedIn company profile on Nov. 18, Dec. 16 and Dec. 20, 2023.