Randstad: U.S. Workers Feel Secure in Jobs, Optimistic Towards Future Prospects

More than half of U.S. workers anticipate job market turnaround, signaling critical opportunity for companies to re-engage workforce

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Randstad US

May 07, 2012, 09:21 ET

ATLANTA, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study released today from Randstad, the second largest HR services and staffing company in the world, revealed that U.S. workers are feeling more secure in their jobs and less likely to make sacrifices to keep their jobs as they see a more promising future on the horizon. Three out of four (75 percent) U.S. workers feel secure in their jobs and more than half (54 percent) expect the job market to pick up this year.

The Randstad Engagement Index, previously named the Attachment Index, measures the attitudes and perceptions impacting employee engagement within companies today. The findings represent employees' priorities, concerns, outlook and intent around both their current employer and future career plans. The study targets employees to help employers further understand and better engage their workforces.

While respondents report feeling more secure in their current jobs, they are also cautiously optimistic around changing jobs. Fifty-eight percent think they would not be able to find a job they would want to accept right now, but almost half (45 percent) plan to explore new job options when the job market picks up. The Index also found that employees are less willing to make sacrifices to keep their current jobs, with only 20 percent willing to take a reduction in benefits and 10 percent willing to take a demotion or lesser job.

"Employees are indicating greater job security which is a good sign for companies. As employees regain their job confidence, there is a real opportunity for employers to re-engage their workforces to maximize and improve performance, productivity and output," said Joanie Ruge, senior vice president & chief employment analyst for Randstad Holding US. "As the economy and job market continue to recover, employees will likely be more motivated to assess their careers and look towards future prospects. Companies need to be on the lookout for both at-risk employees and top performers and tailor their engagement plans to meet their differing needs. By developing and delivering effective engagement and retention strategies, companies and their employees will reap the benefits both today and in the future."

Measuring the Six Components of Engagement
The Randstad Engagement Index is built around six components that measure drivers of engagement, helping employers gauge the success of their efforts and identify current and future needs.

78 percent of employees feel inspired to do their best each day
Almost three-fourths (74 percent) of employees are proud to work for their company
68 percent of employees enjoy going to work every day, up 3 percent from March 2011
63 percent of employees feel their efforts at work are recognized and valued
62 percent indicate they trust their company leadership to make good decisions for the workforce
65 percent of employees believe their company shares their values, up 5 percent from March 2011

Industry Pulse
The Randstad Engagement Index also gauges insights by industry to identify workforce trends across the general employee base and within key industry sectors, including healthcare, finance and accounting, engineering, pharma and IT. Industry result highlights include:

Healthcare

Only 6 percent of healthcare employees surveyed blame their job performance overall for potential job loss
Of each key industry surveyed, healthcare workers are the least likely at 37 percent to believe the economy negatively altered their career plans

Finance and Accounting

Almost half (43 percent) of finance and accounting employees surveyed feel left behind in their career because of the poor economy and job market
Only 16 percent of finance and accounting employees surveyed are concerned about losing their jobs

Engineering

Engineers are the most likely at 69 percent to believe that the job market will pick up in 2012
Engineers are more optimistic than any other sector around getting a raise (68 percent) and a promotion (37 percent)
Engineers are the most willing of all sectors surveyed to consider making sacrifices to keep their job, including nearly half (45 percent) who are willing to take a reduction in vacation time

Pharma/Life Sciences

Pharma employees are the least likely of all sectors at 34 percent to accept an enticing job offer from another company
Pharma employees are also the least likely of any sector to take precautionary measures due to fear of job loss, with less than a third reporting that they are cutting back on expenses (28 percent) and only 21 percent trying to put more money towards savings
If they were to lose their job in the near future, 31 percent (the most of any sector) expect it to take more than six months to find a new job

Information Technology

Eight in ten IT employees feel secure in their employment
At 53 percent, IT employees are the most likely compared to other sectors to be planning to explore other job options when the job market improves
More than half (52 percent) of IT employees expect their company to expand its workforce

Methodology
The Randstad Engagement Index is comprised of findings from quarterly waves of research targeting employees and annual surveys of employers. The fourth wave of findings was conducted February 10-20, 2012. A national sample of 3,063 adults aged 18 and older who are currently employed full time from Ipsos' U.S. online panel were interviewed online.

Weighting was used to balance demographics and ensure samples reflect the U.S. population of working adults.

Employees and employers were surveyed to compare notable differences in perceptions and attitudes. Multiple waves of research allow for trending and to track changes in perceptions and attitudes over time. Research into employee attitudes and perceptions will be conducted quarterly. Research into employer attitudes and perceptions will be conducted on an annual basis.

About Ipsos Public Affairs
Ipsos Public Affairs is a non-partisan, objective, survey-based research practice which conducts strategic research initiatives for a diverse number of American and international organizations, based on public opinion research. They are the international polling agency of record for Thomson Reuters, the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. To learn more, visit: www.ipsos-pa.com.

About Randstad US
Randstad is a $22.5 billion global provider of HR services and the second largest staffing organization in the world. From temporary staffing to permanent placement to inhouse, professionals, search & selection, and HR Solutions, Randstad holds top positions around the world and has approximately 28,700 corporate employees working from its nearly 4,700 branches and inhouse locations in 40 countries. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam.

Learn more at http://www.randstad.com.

SOURCE Randstad US