U.S. finance and accounting workers’ confidence reached a near seven-year high in the first quarter of 2014, according to the Randstad Professionals’ finance and accounting employee confidence index for the first quarter of 2014. The index rose three points to 64.3. The last time confidence levels were this high in this sector was in 2007, at 67.5 in the third quarter.

“We aren't surprised to see finance and accounting workers possess the highest confidence level among all industries we survey,” said Rebecca Callahan, group president, Randstad Professionals. “The outlook for jobs in the finance and accounting sector is very optimistic, as demand for these skills continues to grow.”

Seventy-one percent of accounting and finance workers feel confident in the future of their current employer, up from 57 percent last quarter. And 82 percent believe they are not likely to lose their jobs in the next 12 months, up significantly from 69 percent who said the same in the fourth quarter of 2013.

However, the number of finance and accounting employees who believe more jobs are available fell to 22 percent from 33 percent in the fourth quarter. The number of finance and accounting workers confident in their ability to find a new job also fell three percentage points from the prior quarter to 56 percent, but still exceeds the combined rate of 47 percent for workers in all industries tracked by Randstad.

Harris Interactive conducted the survey within the U.S. on behalf of Randstad Professionals in January, February and March, 2013. It included 152 respondents employed in accounting and finance.