Engineering Workers Upbeat About Jobs and the Economy

ATLANTA, Nov. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Randstad Engineering Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. engineers, continued to rise in the third quarter of 2013, reaching a high of 64.0, according to a survey among 114 engineering employees conducted online by Harris Interactive. The figure was the highest of all industries examined by Randstad, including finance and accounting, IT, healthcare, office and administrative and manufacturing. Data was collected July 9-11, August 5-7 and September 9-11, 2013, and thus does not reflect the attitudes of employees during the government shutdown.

"Given the current demand for talent and the skills shortage facing the engineering sector, it is no surprise that engineering professionals are feeling confident and secure with their jobs," said Richard Zambacca, President of Randstad Engineering. "We continue to see demand for specialized talent like quality engineers, controls engineers and process/manufacturing engineers, and we expect these areas to drive the most job growth in 2014. For engineering workers looking to advance or break into new fields, industry certifications are a great way to distinguish yourself from others.

"Demand for engineering professionals is projected to significantly increase over the next decade, and because of this, the need for more women to enter the field is growing," Zambacca continued. "Impending baby boomer retirements could mean the loss of nearly half of all scientists and engineers, making the need for talent even more urgent. Today, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau, only 13 percent of engineers are women."

Q3 Survey Highlights:

Engineering Workers' Confidence in the Economy Rises in the Third Quarter

Forty-three percent of engineering professionals believe the economy is getting stronger, rising three percentage points from the second quarter of 2013.

Engineers Cautious About Job Availability

Just over one out of every three (35%) engineers believe more jobs are available, showing no change from the previous quarter. However, 41 percent of engineering workers believe fewer jobs are available this quarter, representing a sizeable change in outlook when compared to last quarter's 30 percent.

Engineers' Confidence in Ability to Find New Jobs Remains Positive

The majority (61%) of engineers feel confident in their ability to find a new job, falling just one percentage point from the second quarter of 2013.

Worker Sentiment about Job Security Remains Strong

Eighty-one percent of engineers report they are not likely to lose their jobs over the next 12 months, rising eight percentage points from the previous quarter.

Slightly Fewer Engineers Likely to Search for New Employment

Twenty-nine percent of engineers say they are likely to look for a new job within the next 12 months, a slight decrease of four percentage points from the second quarter of 2013.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad Engineering from July 9-11, August 5-7 and September 9-11, 2013, among 3,163 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 5,660 employment experts, Randstad puts an average of nearly 100,000 people to work in the U.S. each week through its network of more than 900 branches and client-dedicated locations.

Learn more at www.randstad.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 Engineering