Engineering Professionals Reported Highest Confidence Levels in Nearly Two Years

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Feb 09, 2015, 11:47 ET

ATLANTA, Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Randstad Engineering Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. engineers, rose during the fourth quarter of 2014 to 64.2. This represented a 2.5 point increase from 61.7 in the third quarter of 2014. The online survey was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Engineering among nearly 100 employed U.S. engineers (ages 18 and older) during October, November and December of 2014. The survey found that engineering professionals were highly confident in the overall economic situation, as well as their own personal employment situation.

The index showed 4 in 10 engineering professionals (40%) believed the economy was getting stronger, an increase from 36 percent in the third quarter of 2014. However, only 31 percent felt there were more jobs available, compared to 38 percent in the third quarter. Forty-two percent of employed engineers said they felt there were fewer jobs available, a rise of five percentage points from the third quarter.

Despite waning confidence in the overall availability of jobs, 63 percent of engineering professionals expressed confidence in their ability to find a new job over the following 12 months, versus 56 percent in the previous quarter. In addition, personal job security among the engineering workforce remained at a very high level. Nearly 8 in 10 engineering professionals (78%) said it was unlikely they would lose their job over the next 12 months. Although workers were clearly confident regarding their personal job security, 32 percent said it was likely they would seek new employment opportunities over the following 12 months.

"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.

"U.S. manufacturers are bringing more jobs back to North America as a result of difficulties sourcing overseas talent, shrinking cost advantages to offshoring and the rapid speed-to-market expectations in today's technological environment," continued Zambacca. "This will likely result in a greater demand for manufacturing engineers and plant/facilities engineers. According to research conducted by Consulting-Specifying Engineer, about half of engineers are older than 55 years of age and nearly 20 percent are older than 65 years of age. Therefore, as these professionals begin to retire in large numbers, the gap for qualified engineering talent will widen even further."

Q4 2014 Survey Highlights:

Engineers' Confidence in Strength of Economy Rose Again

Four-in-10 (40%) engineers believed the economy was getting stronger, an increase of four percentage points from 36 percent in the third quarter. Just over one-quarter (27%) believed the economy was getting weaker, compared to 35 percent in the previous quarter.

Fewer Engineers Believed There were More Jobs Available

Less than one-third (31%) of engineers said they believed there were more jobs available, compared to 38 percent reported in the third quarter.

Engineering Professionals Were Highly Confident in Ability to Find a New Job

Sixty-three percent of engineering professionals stated they were confident in their ability to find a new job, an increase of seven percentage points from 56 percent in the third quarter.

No Change in the Level of Job Security Among Engineers

Engineering professionals continued to have the highest level of perceived job security among all professions surveyed. The clear majority (78%) believed it was not likely they would lose their job over the next 12 months.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Engineering from October 8–10, November 3–5 and December 8–10, 2014 among 3,144 adults ages 18 and older, of which 98 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