The Randstad Professionals' Finance & Accounting Employee Confidence Index declined to 58.0 this quarter after reaching a near seven-year high of 64.3 in the first quarter of 2014. Despite the overall decline in employee confidence among professionals in this sector, the index remained above 50, which indicates a positive reading.

As Competition for IT Talent Heats Up Across Industries, Companies Must Think Beyond Traditional Technology Hubs and Skill Sets to Net Top Workers

CEB (NYSE: CEB) the leading member-based advisory company, today announced that the US remains a global leader in IT job creation with nearly 440,000 IT jobs advertised across 2013. Based on the company's analysis, the rate of IT job creation through 2018 will actually be faster outside the Technology sector than within it.

According to the Q2 Randstad Office & Administrative Confidence Index, employee confidence rose for the second consecutive quarter to 54.0 in the second quarter of 2014. The survey, which measures overall confidence among U.S. office and administrative professionals, was conducted online among 394 workers in this sector by Harris Poll on behalf of Randstad. The report found increasing confidence among workers in the strength of the economy and in the number of available jobs.

The Randstad Manufacturing & Logistics Employee Confidence Index, a measure of overall confidence among U.S. workers in this sector, hit an all-time high this quarter rising from 50.5 to 56.0 – a level not reached since Randstad began tracking the index in 2005. The quarterly survey, conducted by Harris Poll among 161 manufacturing and logistics workers on behalf of Randstad, also found workers' sense of economic strength, availability of jobs and their ability to find a new job all rose this quarter.

Fifth Consecutive Increase; Economy May Accelerate in Second Half of the Year

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.3 percent in June to 102.2 (2004 = 100), following a 0.7 percent increase in May, and a 0.3 percent increase in April.

• Companies putting cash to work as competitive pressure grows
• M&A plans increase as companies look to cement leadership, add talent and strengthen technologies

The number of IT jobs grew 0.3 percent sequentially last month to 4,664,800, according to TechServe Alliance, the national trade association of the IT & Engineering Staffing and Solutions industry. On a year-over-year basis, IT employment has grown by 3.2% since June 2013 adding 144,200 IT workers.

TechAmerica Foundation Whitepaper Underscores the Importance of Free Trade Agreements

U.S. tech trade of goods and services tops more than $1 trillion according to the latest whitepaper by the TechAmerica Foundation. The paper examines the latest data on the exports and imports of both tech goods and services, showing their significance to the U.S. economy.

Consumer optimism about the economy reached a 12-month high, good news for retailers hoping that a strong second half of 2014 can compensate for sluggish sales earlier this year.

Consumer optimism surged from 39% to 46% — the highest level of optimism since it stood at 48% in July 2013. Younger consumers are particularly optimistic, with a majority (55%)

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for Mexico increased 0.7 percent in May to 122.7 (2004 = 100), following a 0.8 percent increase in April and a 0.1 percent decline in March.

Index Shows Strong Positive Momentum

The Conference Board Employment Trends Index™ (ETI) increased in June. The index now stands at 119.62, up from 119.03 (an upward revision) in May. This represents a 6.3 percent gain in the ETI compared to a year ago.

The Randstad Personal Confidence Index also reaches highest level in more than five years

Reports of positive economic indicators during the past several months have resonated with U.S. workers, whose confidence levels in the job market, economy and their personal employment situations all rebounded to multi-year highs.