For the third consecutive month, U.S. employee confidence rose in November, according to the Randstad U.S. Employee Confidence Index. Nearly four in ten workers (37 percent) believe the economy is strengthening compared to 29 percent who feel the economy is weakening. The Randstad Index, which tracks U.S. workers' monthly perspectives around jobs and the economy, increased 0.5 points to 58.7 from 58.2 in October. The study was conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad, among 1,052 employed U.S. adults ages 18 and older.

Employees' confidence in the availability of jobs changed little in November, while their confidence in finding a new job continued to rise. Approximately three-in-ten employees (29 percent) expressed increased confidence in the availability of jobs, relatively unchanged from last month (30 percent). Meanwhile, 51 percent of workers are confident in their ability to find a job, a four percentage point increase from October. Not surprisingly, as more workers gained confidence in their ability to find a new job, their intent to do so rose as well. Nearly four in ten employees (37 percent) said it was likely they would look for a new job in November, a three percentage point increase from October. 

Randstad's job security index, which tracks workers' beliefs about the likelihood of losing their current job, continues to indicate growing job security among employees. In fact, as the highest percentage of all indexes tracked by Randstad, a full 70 percent of workers feel it is not likely they will lose their job in the next 12 months. 

"As we near the end of a year marked by ongoing recovery, employees recognize the stable and robust health of the economy and job market," said Jim Link, Chief HR Officer, Randstad North America. "On the heels of several years wrought with corporate layoffs, it is particularly impressive to note today's workers express high levels of job security. Our job security index findings mirror this year's dramatic decline in U.S. layoffs and the shrinking number of applicants for new unemployment benefits. In fact, in the week ending Nov. 15, initial jobless claims fell by 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 291,000 and totaled fewer than 300,000 for the 10th straight week. Also in that time period, the number of people already receiving unemployment benefits fell to a 14-year low." 

Falling jobless claims stem from both fewer layoffs and increased hiring, and the economy is on track to add the most jobs in at least a decade, in large part from small-business hiring activity. As consumers are encouraged this month to shop small businesses, it's important to note these smaller organizations' role in fueling job growth. According to payroll provider ADP's latest employment report, nonfarm private small business payrolls rose by 102,000 in October and accounted for 45 percent of employment gains across all payroll size groups. In fact, for the third consecutive month, the nation's smallest businesses contributed more job openings than their larger counterparts. 

"The Small Business Administration reports approximately 28 million small businesses in the United States, and impressively this group has generated more than 65 percent of net new jobs since 1995," continued Link. "We also know more than half of the working population is employed by a small business. While it's easy to focus on well-known brands and the nation's Fortune 500 companies, the role small employers play in our nation is unmistakable, and they offer tremendous career opportunities for today's workers."

Randstad, the second largest staffing and HR services firm in the world, has been tracking workforce trends and publishing the U.S. Employee Confidence Index since 2004.