Randstad U.S. Employment Report: 2011 In Review

NEW YORK, Jan. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Randstad has compiled key jobs data to reflect the overall picture of the US employment landscape in 2011. This report captures 2011 highlights as it relates to: job creation, public and private sector jobs, the temporary help services industry and the professional service sectors. In addition, the Randstad Employee Confidence & Employee Attachment Indices have been included to provide a snapshot of US worker sentiments over the year and predictions for next year.

A recent online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad from December 12-14, 2011 among 1,222 employed adults ages 18 and older in the U.S., reveals that the Randstad Employee Confidence Index slightly decreased by 0.6 points to 47.4 in December, indicating a slight decline in worker confidence. Overall, employee confidence levels in 2011 have continued to hover around the 50.0 mark -- indicating positive confidence. In fact, 2011 began with a slightly elevated Employee Confidence Index compared to previous years and remained above its historical low point of 40.1 in February 2009. The Index, which measures workers' confidence in both their personal employment situation and sentiment in the economic environment, shows that more workers have remained optimistic about not only their job security, but also their personal employment situations.

On the same note, the 2011 index has somewhat mirrored the movement seen in many economic reports.  Many businesses and consumers alike are feeling uncertain in terms of a recovery due to mixed economic signals and because of that, we have seen worker confidence ebb and flow throughout 2011.

Additional highlights include:

• 2011 confidence high-point: May (53.9); 2011 confidence low-point: August (41.0)
• Job transition Index hit highest point ever in January 2011 (40 percent)
• Job Security Index reached lowest point in August 2011 (66 percent)

"As we look back at 2011, we see that employees' concerns changed throughout the year as the economy remained uncertain and employment situations across various industries contracted and expanded," says Joanie Ruge, senior vice president and chief employment analyst of Randstad Holding US. "Economic growth has remained relatively modest, posting gains in several key sectors, including engineering, IT, healthcare and even finance and accounting. Despite the slight pullback this month, overall temporary help services has continued to show increases, and we see this trend continuing into 2012. This year has largely been associated with reports around economic uncertainty, and the U.S. presidential election and the European debt crisis have added to this sentiment. But let's keep in mind that current economic conditions did not come about overnight, and it will take time to create the amount of jobs necessary  to push down unemployment. I do believe, however that we will see more job creation in the beginning of this year. However, according to economists, the economy will remain vulnerable to possible setbacks due to reports around the global economy potentially entering a recession."

2011 Job Creation:

• Job creation continues to be slow but steady as an uncertain economy continues to recover
• 1.9 million jobs in the private sector were created in 2011
• Since December 2009, retail has continued to add jobs at an average rate of 14,000 jobs per month(1)

2011 Private Sector:

• Private sector jobs were up overall in 2011, with steady gains each month
• The private sector has now recovered 33 percent of jobs lost during the period of January 2008 to February 2010(1)
• Employment in the private sector has increased steadily each month, adding 1.9 million jobs during 2011(1)

2011 Government Jobs:

• Government agencies announced more than 280,000 job cuts in 2011
• Many public job cuts can be attributed to jobs lost in the U.S. Postal Service,  and state and local governments(1)
• Employment in both state government and local government has been trending down since the second half of 2008(1)

2011 Temporary Jobs:

• Temporary help sector saw an uptick in the second half of 2011, averaging 15,000 jobs per month from July to November with a dip of 7,500 jobs in December(1)
• While overall temporary job numbers increased in 2011, involuntary part-time workers, or those employed part-time for economic reasons, dropped(1)
• Although still below 2000's peak of more than two percent of the total workforce, the number of temporary workers in the U.S. labor market is trending upwards(2)

2011 Professional & Business Services:

• Demand for jobs in the professional  and business services sectors continues to increase
• Over the past 12 months, healthcare has added 315,000 jobs, for an increase of 2.3 percent in 2011(1)
• While professional service jobs in general were up, financial services cut more than 56,000 jobs in 2011(3)
• Engineering, Information technology and healthcare continue to be high-growth industries with low unemployment rates

Predictions for 2012 – Randstad Attachment Index:
Randstad's Employee Attachment Index, measured quarterly, provides insights into how attached employees are to their employers based on employee engagement and retention levels. With the ups and downs of the economy, workers have very mixed emotions for 2012. While 47 percent report being optimistic and almost three-fourths believe their companies have great futures, a sizeable 20 percent predict they will lose their job in 2012. Other findings include:

• 35 percent of employees reported that they are concerned their benefits will be reduced; while even more at 48 percent, predict it will happen in 2012
• 41 percent predict their companies will lay people off in 2012
• More workers are actually optimistic about 2012 with almost half (47 percent) predicting they will get a raise
• 40 percent predict their companies will expand their workforce in 2012

(1) Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report
(2) Staffing Industry Analysts
(3) The ADP National Employment Report

Methodology for Randstad Employee Confidence
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Randstad from December 12-14, 2011 among 1,222 employed adults ages 18 and older. 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 click here.

Methodology for Randstad Employee Attachment Index
The Randstad Employee Attachment Index is comprised of findings from quarterly waves of research targeting employees. This is the third wave of research that has been fielded with a national sample of 3,022 adults aged 18 and older who are currently employed full-time from Ipsos' U.S. online panel. The survey was conducted between October 6 - 12, 2011. Weighting was used to balance demographics and ensure samples reflect the U.S. population of working adults. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error and measurement error.

About Randstad
Randstad is an $18.8 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 puts approximately 27,500 corporate employees to work from its nearly 4,200 branches and inhouse locations in 43 countries. Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Diemen, the Netherlands, Randstad Holding nv is listed on the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam. Learn more at www.randstad.com.

SOURCE Randstad