The Randstad engineering employee confidence index fell to a reading of 59.0 in the second quarter of 2012, a decrease of 5.9 percent compared to a reading of 64.9 during Q1. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment.

Thirty-eight percent of engineering workers believe the economy is getting stronger, down 2.0 percentage points from the first quarter. Fifty-eight percent feel confident in their ability to find a new job, up slightly from 57 percent in the previous quarter.

“Engineering professionals continue to be one of the most confident sectors tracked by Randstad,” said Richard Zambacca, president of Randstad Engineering. “Despite this dip in overall confidence, engineers remain highly confident in their ability to find alternative employment, as well as in their intentions to do so in the near future.”

The newly branded quarterly report is based on an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad. It surveyed 3,790 employed U.S. adults.