The Randstad engineering employee confidence index reached 64.9 in the first quarter of 2012, its highest level since the third quarter of 2007 when the index stood at 66.2. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment.

Forty percent of engineering workers believe the economy is getting stronger, up 23 percentage points from the fourth quarter of last year. Fifty-seven percent feel confident in their ability to find a new job, up from 49 percent in the previous quarter.

“Given the strength of the engineering industry, it was not surprising that the Randstad engineering employee confidence index was the highest among all other professions tracked,” said Richard Zambacca, president of Randstad Engineering. “According to the Department of Labor, there were more than 1.6 million jobs in engineering at the end of Q1 2012 and this is expected to grow at 11 percent over the next 10 years. Based on this projected growth, it is likely that our Index will continue to report high levels of confidence, on both a macroeconomic and personal level.”

The newly branded quarterly report is based on an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad. It surveyed 4,341 employed U.S. adults.