Engineering Professionals Remain Confident in the Second Quarter of 2014

ATLANTA, Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Randstad Engineering Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. engineers, fell below 60.0 for the first time since the second quarter of 2013, declining from 63.6 to 59.8 this quarter. The online survey, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Engineering among 114 employed U.S. engineers (ages 18 and older), showed declines in nearly all measures of the index; however, confidence levels remain high when compared to those other industries surveyed. The index also remained well above 50, which indicates a positive reading. The survey was conducted in April, May and June of this year.

The index indicated a loss of confidence in engineers' own personal job security, dropping from 84 percent last quarter to 72 percent in Q2. In addition, the Personal Confidence Index for engineering workers dropped more than five percentage points from 77.8 last quarter to 72.6 this quarter. When it comes to the job market, many engineers appear more neutral on the subject. More than four-in-10 (42%) engineers said they were neutral about the availability of jobs, and more than one-third (34%) said they are neutral when it comes to their ability to find a new job.

"Although we saw declines across most of the confidence index measures, it is important to point out that engineers still maintain the highest overall confidence level across all professions surveyed," said Richard Zambacca, President of Randstad Engineering. "We also believe our findings support a general move towards engineers being more selective when considering other job opportunities. There's a trend among engineers to seek out opportunities or maximize on positions that will allow for the development of new skills, drive career advancement, give them opportunities to cross train and lend to overall self-improvement."

While "upskilling," or expanding on one's core skill set, is one way engineers are ensuring career longevity, many are also turning to non-traditional employment, like contingent or part-time work, to not only acquire new skills but also because the demand is high for these job opportunities. In fact, according to a recent survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 200 largest companies, temporary workers represented, on average, 22 percent of their workforce, and that percentage is only growing. As more employers rely on contract or project-based engineers to complete critical work and special business objectives, the market for top engineering talent will further tighten.

Q2 2014 Survey Highlights:

Engineers' Confidence in Ability to Find New Jobs Declines

• A little over half (51%) of engineers feel confident in their ability to find a new job, a 15 percentage point decline from the first quarter of 2014. More than one-third (34%) remain neutral on their ability to find a new job this quarter.

Job Security Diminishes, but Remains High Among Engineering Workers

• Nearly three-quarters (72%) of engineers feel it is not likely they will lose their job over the next 12 months, a 12 percentage point decline from 84 percent in Q1 2014. However, engineers continue to have one of the highest levels of job security among professions surveyed by Randstad.

Slightly More Engineers Plan on Searching for New Jobs, But More Skeptical About Increased Job Availability

• Nearly one-third (32%) of engineers reported they are likely to look for a new job within the next 12 months versus 29 percent in the first quarter of 2014. Meanwhile, only 21 percent believe there are more jobs available, a 14 point decline from last quarter.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Engineering from April 7-9, May 8-12 and June 4-6, 2014 among 3,352 adults ages 18 and older, of which 114 are employed in engineering. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact [email protected].

About Randstad Engineering
Randstad Engineering has been matching our clients with the expert engineering and technical staff they need to help their companies succeed since 1988. With degreed engineers and expert technical recruiters on staff who understand the unique challenges of your industry, we work closely with you to realize your specific business goals by quickly connecting you with the expert professionals who will help you achieve them. Our extensive network of candidates—3 million engineers and other technical experts—means that no matter the skill, no matter the goal, we can quickly find the right person to get your job done. As experts powering business, we enable you not only to reach your immediate hiring goals but also to expand your business' potential for long-term success.

About Randstad US 
Randstad US is a wholly owned subsidiary of Randstad Holding nv, a $22.0 billion global provider of HR services. As the third largest staffing organization in the U.S., Randstad holds top positions in permanent placement, office and administrative, IT and accounting and finance. From professional services, commercial staffing, recruitment process outsourcing, to managed services and more, Randstad delivers a comprehensive range of temporary, temporary-to-hire, permanent placement and outsourced placement services. With its 5,324 employment experts, Randstad puts an average of approximately 100,000 people to work in the U.S. each week, through its network of nearly 1,000 branches and client-dedicated locations.

Learn more at www.randstadusa.com and access Randstad's panoramic U.S. thought leadership knowledge center through its Workforce360 site that offers valuable insight into the latest economic indicators and HR trends shaping the world of work.

SOURCE Randstad US