IT Worker Confidence Unchanged at 60.4 in Q4; Highest Level Recorded

BOSTON, Feb. 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Randstad Technologies Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among technology workers, held steady at 60.4 in the fourth quarter of 2013. The quarterly study, conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of talent and solutions provider Randstad Technologies, also indicated growing confidence levels among technology workers about their employers' futures, with the percentage of workers in this industry reporting an optimistic outlook rising to 69 percent (versus 61% in Q3).

"Technology professionals have one of the highest levels of confidence among other industries surveyed, and rightfully so," said Bob Dickey, Group President, Technology and Engineering at Randstad. "With the increase in emerging technologies such as web and mobile application development, Big Data and SaaS, the job market for IT professionals who specialize in such areas remains very bright."

Although fewer IT workers stated they are likely to look for a new job in the next year, over a third (35%) believe more jobs are available and 52 percent are positive in their ability to find them.

"Competition for IT talent remains fierce," continued Dickey. "Dice.com recently reported that 55 percent more employers plan to hire large numbers of technology talent, up from 42 percent in the second half of 2013. Candidates are not only receiving numerous job offers, but we're also seeing more and more companies leveraging talent and solutions providers to attract the best and brightest workers in the technology industry. The competition for highly skilled workers is also increasing the need for employers to stay competitive when it comes to compensation."  

Additional Q4 2013 Findings:

Confidence in the Economy Decreased in Fourth Quarter

• Technology professionals' confidence in the overall economy decreased by eight percentage points this quarter, with 34 percent believing the economy is getting stronger.

 Workers' Sense of Job Security Remained Strong

• Nearly three-quarters (71%) of IT workers reported it is not likely they will lose their job in the next 12 months.

Fewer IT Workers Likely to Job Hunt

• Thirty-one percent of IT workers indicated being likely to look for a new job in the next year, down from 37 percent indicating so in Q3 2013.

Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad Technologies from October 8-10, November 6-8 and December 3-5, 2013 among 166 adults ages 18 and older who are employed in IT. 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 Technologies
Randstad Technologies has been connecting top companies around the globe with the expert technology talent and solutions that drives their success since 1984. Our deep industry expertise and full-service capabilities—Recruitment, Consulting, Projects and Outsourcing—enable organizations to be agile, productive and ahead in the field with their wide network of specialists and flexible solutions. For more information, visit www.randstadtechnologies.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 5,660 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.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 Technologies