The Randstad Technologies Employee Confidence Index fell to a reading of 57.4 in the fourth quarter from a third-quarter reading of 61.7, the highest level ever recorded in the index’s nine-year history. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment.

“Although overall confidence levels declined this quarter, the labor market conditions for IT workers and job seekers was arguably at the healthiest levels we've seen in quite some time,” said Bob Dickey, group president of technology and engineering at Randstad. “What should be most concerning for employers is a diminished level of confidence among the IT workforce around the future of their company. In a profession where innovation and remaining ‘cutting’ edge is fundamental to career growth, if IT workers aren’t confident their current employer holds a competitive edge, they will likely seek employment elsewhere.”

Less than half of IT workers, 49%, expressed confidence in the future of their employer, a significant decline from 62% in the previous quarter.

The percentage of IT workers who said they are likely to look for a new job in the next year edged up to 41% from 40% in the third quarter. However, 44% believe fewer jobs are available, up from 38% in the third quarter, and 52% are confident in their ability to find them, down from 56% in the third quarter.

Technology professionals’ confidence in the overall economy edged down 2 percentage points in the fourth quarter, with 41% believing the economy is getting stronger.

US engineering workers’ confidence rises

The Randstad engineering employee confidence index for the US rose to a reading of 64.2 in the fourth quarter of 2014 from 61.7 in the third quarter. The survey found engineering professionals were highly confident in the overall economic situation, as well as their own personal employment situation.

“While the fourth-quarter findings of our Engineering Confidence Index indicated moderate job mobility among engineers, there are several industry trends that could alter the sheer volume of engineering jobs available in the marketplace, and the qualifications employers will seek,” said Richard Zambacca, president of Randstad Engineering. “Automation, quality, sustainability, rapid technologies and next-shoring are all shaping the demand for engineering and related technical talent in 2015.”

The survey found 63 percent of engineers feel confident in their ability to find a new job, up from 56% in the third quarter. And 78% of engineers surveyed indicated they are not likely to lose their jobs over the next 12 months, the highest level of perceived job security among all professions surveyed.

Thirty-two percent of engineering professionals are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months. However, 31% said they believed there were more jobs available, down from 38% in the third quarter.

Healthcare workers’ confidence rebounds

Healthcare workers’ confidence rebounded in the fourth quarter, according to the Randstad Healthcare employee confidence index. The index rose to a reading of 57.0 in the fourth quarter from a reading of 54.3 in the third quarter.

Only 30% of healthcare workers say they are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months, down from 36% in the third quarter. However, 56% of healthcare workers indicated they are confident they could find a job in the next 12 months, up from 49% in the third-quarter survey.

Job security among healthcare professionals was significantly high. Only 8% said it was likely they would lose their job, while 76% believed it was not likely. The survey also found 28% of healthcare workers felt there were more jobs available, a nine percentage point increase from the third quarter.

“…the improving economy means lower unemployment and, in turn, more people may have employer-sponsored health insurance and will be more likely to perform elective healthcare procedures,” said Randstad Healthcare President Steve McMahan. “This is driving demand for healthcare workers at a faster pace than many employers anticipated and is requiring them to quickly increase staff levels. At the same time, lower unemployment rates means the number of available candidates is decreasing. These dynamics are driving more utilization of flexible staffing firms to deliver highly-qualified healthcare workers on a timelier basis.”

The reports are based on an online survey conducted in the US by Harris Interactive, on behalf of Randstad, that included 190 adult IT workers, 98 adults employed in engineering and 154 healthcare employees. The survey was conducted in October, November and December of 2014.