Healthcare Workers Close Out 2014 with High Confidence Levels and Job Security

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Feb 09, 2015, 11:20 ET

ATLANTA, Feb. 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the Randstad Healthcare Employee Confidence Index, U.S. healthcare employees' confidence rebounded to 57.0 in fourth quarter 2014, up from 54.3 in third quarter. The online study was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Healthcare and surveyed healthcare employees (ages 18 and older), including: physicians, nurses, healthcare administrators and other healthcare professionals. The results are indicative of information collected during October, November and December of 2014.

The Randstad Healthcare Macroeconomic Confidence Index, a measure of employees' confidence in the overall strength of the economy and job availability, also increased by 7.9 points to reach a total of 42.9. Twenty-four percent of healthcare workers said they believed the economy was getting stronger, compared to only 19 percent in the previous quarter. Additionally, 28 percent of healthcare workers felt there were more jobs available, a nine percentage point increase from the third quarter.

When it comes to personal confidence, more than half (56%) of healthcare professionals expressed optimism in the ability to find a new job, compared to 49 percent during the third quarter. However, only 30 percent said they would likely look for a new job over the following 12 months, while 58 percent said they were not likely to pursue other employment opportunities. Healthcare professionals also exhibited high confidence levels regarding job security, as 76 percent felt it was unlikely they would lose their job over the following 12 months.

"Last year brought significant changes to the healthcare sector, and 2015 is going to be more of the same," said Steve McMahan, President of Randstad Healthcare. "Healthcare workers are going to feel the effects of macro-level pressures faced by healthcare providers, including the shift from fee-for-service to value-based payments and a developing need to compete on outcomes. As providers contend with top-line revenue constraints, operating margin compressions and the strain of healthcare reform readiness activities, they are focusing more on value and delivering the best possible health outcomes at a given level of cost. To succeed in competing on outcomes, providers will seek out healthcare professionals who can deliver high-quality care and work towards a common goal of balancing cost and quality.

"Additionally, the improving economy means lower unemployment and, in turn, more people may have employer-sponsored health insurance and will be more likely to perform elective healthcare procedures," continued McMahan. "This is driving demand for healthcare workers at a faster pace than many employers anticipated and is requiring them to quickly increase staff levels. At the same time, lower unemployment rates means the number of available candidates is decreasing. These dynamics are driving more utilization of flexible staffing firms to deliver highly-qualified healthcare workers on a timelier basis."

Q4 2014 Survey Highlights:

Healthcare Workers Had Highest Level of Job Security Among All Professions Surveyed

Job security among healthcare professionals was significantly high. Only eight percent said it was likely they would lose their job, while 76 percent believed it was not likely.

Fewer Healthcare Employees Were Likely to Look For a New Job

Only 1 in 3 (30%) healthcare workers said they were likely to look for a new job over the following 12 months, compared to 36 percent who indicated so in the third quarter of 2014.

More Than Half of Healthcare Professionals Felt Confident in Ability to Find a Job

More than half (56%) of healthcare employees said they were confident in their ability to find a job, compared to 49 percent in the third quarter of 2014.

Confidence in the Strength of the Economy Improved

Twenty-four percent of healthcare employees said they believed the economy was getting stronger, compared to 19 percent in the previous quarter. However, 39 percent of healthcare professionals still said they believed the economy was getting weaker.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Healthcare from October 8–10, November 3–5, and December 8–10, 2014 among 3,144 adults ages 18 and older, of which 154 are employed in healthcare, which included physicians, nurses, healthcare administrators and other healthcare professionals. 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 Healthcare
Randstad Healthcare is one of the largest healthcare staffing firms in the U.S. and offers market leading, all-inclusive healthcare staffing solutions. Randstad Healthcare has been matching healthcare professionals with career opportunities at America's top healthcare facilities for over 25 years. From large hospital systems and rural medical centers, to physician groups, insurance companies, clinics and Fortune 500 companies, Randstad Healthcare offers full-service staffing capabilities, including physicians, nurses, advanced practice, case management, allied health and vendor managed services. For more information, please visit www.randstadhealthcare.com.

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 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.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