The Randstad Office & Administrative Employee Confidence Index rose 2.9 points from year-end 2014 to reach 57.6 in mid-year 2015, representing the second straight wave of increased ECI among this group. The online survey of office and administrative employees, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad US, measures workers' perceptions regarding the overall strength of the economy, availability of jobs and personal employment prospects. Mid-year 2015 results indicate confidence levels among employees in this sector are rising—in fact, more than 1 in 3 employees (35%) say they believe the economy is getting stronger, and more than 1 in 4 employees (28%) believe there are more jobs available.

Perhaps due to increased confidence in employment opportunities, nearly 3 in 4 employees (74%) feel it is unlikely they will lose their jobs over the following 12 months. However, while personal confidence levels are high, more than half of employees (52%) say it is unlikely they will look for another job over the following 12 months. Additionally, more than 6 in 10 employees (62%) say they are confident in the future of their current employer.

A recent study by CafeQuill.com found over 4 in 10 administrative assistants (42%) have held their current position for six years or more. Only 5 percent of respondents say their workload has decreased, while 6 in 10 (60%) feel their workload has increased, and nearly 2 in 10 (16%) say their workload has increased substantially. The study also found that administrative professionals are expected to juggle many tasks including, but not limited to, the following: managing multiple calendars, planning meetings and events, training and supervising staff, preparing reports, screening calls and coordinating travel.

"Given the vital role office and administrative professionals play within all organizations, we believe job security will continue to remain very high for these workers," said Traci Fiatte, Group President, Randstad US. "However, it's important to note that as the business landscape continues to evolve, professionals within this sector also need to evolve and adapt at pace—these aren't the same jobs they were 30 years ago, and employers' needs and expectations have changed.

"As more companies shift towards a lean business model to maximize efficiency and reduce costs, candidates pursuing these types of jobs should be prepared to demonstrate aptitude in problem-solving and time management, in addition to their ability to adapt quickly and learn new skills. Randstad continues to see an increased need for qualified, technologically-skilled administrative professionals, and we expect this demand will continue to grow."

Click here to visit our Workforce360 thought leadership site for a more detailed analysis of the current economic situation.

Mid-year 2015 Report Highlights:

Workers are confident about employment prospects

• More than 1 in 3 workers (35%) say they believe the economy is getting stronger.

• Roughly 3 in 10 workers (28%) say they believe there are more jobs available.

Workers' personal confidence is high

• Approximately 3 in 4 workers (74%) say it is unlikely they will involuntarily lose their jobs over the next 12 months, and more than half (52%) say it is unlikely they will look for another job.

Workers are confident in their employers

• Roughly 6 in 10 workers (62%) feel confident in the future of their current employer.