The outlook among American workers rebounded slightly this month after a decline in August, according to Randstad’s U.S. employee confidence index. The index edged up to a reading of 56.4 in September from 55.9 in August. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism about the economic environment.

“Although overall confidence levels among workers were little changed month-over-month, the index has remained well above our confidence threshold of 50 throughout 2014, compared to the start of the recession when it never climbed above the 40s,” said Jim Link, chief HR officer, Randstad North America.  “With the nation’s impressive job gains of 248,000 in September and an unemployment rate below 6.0 for the first time since the recession, we expect to see further increases in employee confidence.”

The dynamics of a healthier job market such as pay increase demands, more frequent job changes and career mobility should put employers on notice as their top talent may be more susceptible to a career move, according to Link.

“We're advising our clients to pay greater attention to their workforce’s changing needs,” he said. “Workers continue to gain optimism in their professions alongside the positive economic recovery.”

Workers’ confidence levels regarding their current employment situation remained relatively unchanged from August. Sixty percent said they are confident in the future of their current employer and only 13 percent of employees surveyed believe it is likely they will lose their job in the next 12 months.

Slightly more than one-quarter of workers, 26 percent, say they are confident in the availability of jobs, the same percentage as last month. Similarly, 44 percent of workers say they are confident in their own ability to find a new job, down slightly from 45 percent in August.

The index is based on a survey of 1,058 employed US adults conducted between Sept. 9 and Sept. 11.