Confidence Levels Remain Steady for Office and Administrative Workers in Q3 2014

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Nov 11, 2014, 10:22 ET

ATLANTA, Nov. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Randstad Office & Administrative Confidence Index remains relatively unchanged in the third quarter of 2014, rising slightly to 54.4 from 54.0 last quarter. The survey, which measures overall confidence among U.S. office and administrative professionals, was conducted online among 377 workers in this sector by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad. The survey also found little movement among nearly all aspects measured, including the overall strength of the economy, job market and administrative and office workers' own personal employment situation.

According to the survey, nearly three-in-10 (28%) office and administrative workers believe the economy is strengthening, representing no change from last quarter. Also, seven-in-10 (70%) employees are confident in their job security this quarter, the same percentage as reported in the second quarter of 2014. Administrative and office employees' confidence in their ability to find a new job increased by one percentage point, to 39 percent, from 38 percent last quarter. Similarly, one-third (33%) say they are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months, a two-percentage point decline over the second quarter of 2014.

"The office and administrative sector continues to enjoy relative stability and moderate job growth rates," said Traci Fiatte, Group President of Randstad Staffing. "The competition for job openings is heating up, particularly given the unemployment rate for this sector has dropped from 7.1 percent to 6.1 percent over the past year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics."

Office and administrative professionals are playing a greater role in managing today's office environment. According to research from the American Society of Administrative Professionals, the shift from assistant to managerial role among these workers has rapidly evolved. The organization tracked data from the Administrative Professionals Conference (APC), an annual, nationwide training event for professionals in this sector, and found that in 2008, only seven percent of attendees held non-traditional admin job titles; most were assistants. Five years later, in 2013, more than 22 percent of APC attendees held titles like manager and project coordinator.

"We're seeing candidates stand out by pursuing certifications and continuing education," Fiatte said. "Employers are often willing to pay more for certifications such as, certified administrative professional or Microsoft office specialist, and the ability to speak multiple languages. It demonstrates they can not only do the job, but that they are committed to excelling at it."

Q3 2014 Highlights:

Confidence in Job Availability Remains Stable this Quarter

One-quarter (25%) of office and administrative workers believe more jobs are available in the marketplace, a slight increase of one percentage point from 24 percent in Q2 and up from 20 percent in Q1 2014.

Job Security Levels Remains Unchanged

Seven-in-10 (70%) office and administrative workers are confident in their job security in the third quarter of 2014, representing no change over last quarter. Only 13 percent say it is likely they will lose their job in the next 12 months.

One-Third of Administrative & Office Workers Likely to Seek New Employment

One-third (33%) of office and administrative workers are likely to look for a new job in the next year, declining slightly by two percentage points from the previous quarter.

Confidence in Ability to Find New Jobs Stays Same This Quarter

Nearly four-in-10 (39%) office and administrative workers say they are confident in their ability to find new jobs, increasing one percentage point from the second quarter of 2014.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad from July 8-10, August 4-6 and September 9-11, 2014 among 3,144 ages 18 and older of which 377 are employed in office and administrative positions. 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 Office & Administration

Across the board, Randstad helps companies match the right people with the right jobs. We provide the expertise, the qualified talent pool and the dedicated commitment to making superior matches at a reasonable cost to companies. And we do it on the basis that best suits your needs. Whether you're looking for administrative and clerical support, or the highest caliber talent to fill higher-level jobs, we make it our business to develop office staffing solutions that work. Our exceptional resources allow us to fill an extensive range of general office and executive positions.

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