The Randstad employee confidence index rose 5.0 points in January to a reading of 52.4, the biggest climb since it began. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment.

The number of workers more confident about the macroeconomic environment rose 8.5 percentage points in January from December.

Also, 25 percent of U.S. workers believe the economy is getting strong, a seven percent increase from December.

“We remain very encouraged that our latest U.S. employee confidence index rose 5.0 points—the biggest increase since the survey began over seven years ago,” said Joanie Ruge, senior vice president and chief employment analyst of Randstad Holding US. “Coupled with this strong report, January U.S. payrolls surpassed estimates, with employers adding 243,000 jobs. There is no denying that this economic recovery has been volatile, but as we head into 2012, various U.S. economic reports are pointing to what many hope and believe will be an improving job market.”

The index’s online survey was conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad. It surveyed 1,489 employed U.S. adults, aged 18 and over from January 9-10, 2012.