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Randstad employee confidence index slips after record highs

September 03, 2014

The outlook among American workers fell in August after two months of record-breaking confidence levels, according to Randstad’s U.S. employee confidence index. The index fell 3.2 points in August to a reading of 55.9. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism about the economic environment.

“Workers’ confidence reached all-time highs during the big accelerations in job growth, the unemployment rate fell markedly and hiring diversified across more industries,” said Jim Link, chief HR officer, Randstad North America.  “While still showing steady growth, more tempered jobs reports in recent months have translated into a slight reduction in employee confidence levels, although nowhere near the low in October one year ago. The bottom line is the economy is still climbing upward. In fact, July marked the sixth straight month of employment growth above 200,000.”

Four in 10 workers believe there are fewer jobs available, and 24 percent say they are not confident in their ability to find them.

However, confidence levels regarding their current employment situation remain high. Seventy-four percent of workers believe it is not likely they will lose their job in the next 12 months. Additionally, 61 percent of employees are confident in the future of their current employer, and 53 percent say it is not likely they will look for another job in the next year.

The index is based on a survey of 1,043 employed U.S. adults conducted between Aug. 4 and Aug. 6.