The August Randstad Employee Confidence Index showed significant gains in optimism regarding employers, career prospects and the economy in general among workers. The index rose 1.7 points to hit 58 in August. Employee retention has improved as workers are less likely to seek a new job compared to last month, and more are confident in the future of their employers.
Of course, employees who are not actively seeking new employment may still be passive candidates for recruitment from other firms. Recruiters are still experiencing difficulty sourcing top talent in some areas, according to the Society for Human Resource Management, so recruiting passive candidates may well be on the rise.
Companies experiencing difficulty in obtaining qualified employees for certain positions should not despair. Though the job market is continuing its recovery and confidence continues to increase, the right opportunity can cause a worker to change positions. It also remains true that contingent employment is a viable option, and many business needs can be addressed by contract workers.
The optimism of permanent and temporary workers appears to be justified by the most recent ADP National Employment Report, which shows an increase in employment for August commensurate with the 12-month average. Growth in all sectors, and remarkable growth in the professional service and trade industries, are cause for a bright outlook.
