The Spherion(R) Employee Confidence Index, a monthly gauge of overall worker confidence, declined 1.9 points to 46.5 in March, reaching its lowest level since the survey began in July 2004. Despite this decline, the survey conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of Spherion Corporation (NYSE: SFN) , reveals that more than half (53 percent) of workers remain confident in their ability to find a new job, unchanged from February and 35 percent of workers still plan to change jobs in the next year, a drop of one percentage point.

Slightly fewer workers were confident, however, about the future of their current employers and in the availability of jobs. Specifically, 63 percent of workers say they are confident about the future of their employers, a drop of two percentage points from the previous month. Moreover, 58 percent believe there are fewer jobs available, an increase of five percentage points from February.

Although more than three-quarters (77 percent) of workers believe it is unlikely they will lose their jobs in the next 12 months, doubts about the economy persist. Only six percent of workers believe the economy is getting stronger, unchanged from February.

"Across the nation, there has been a marked slowdown in new job creation and workers are clearly feeling the impact of this and other overall news suggesting a sluggish economy," said Roy Krause, president and chief executive officer of Spherion Corporation. "Even though workers are not confident about the state of the job market and economy, the majority still has a positive sentiment about their personal employment situation and don't believe they will be laid off. While it may seem contradictory, the fact is that workers of all types have very high levels of confidence in their own abilities and future prospects regardless of the macroeconomic situation - a trend which has remained constant since the survey started.

"While some employers believe they now have the upper hand in the job market, the talent shortage remains a very real problem for those employers who are creating new jobs, backfilling positions or trying to retain their current workforce. The high levels of confidence, coupled with workers' dissatisfaction with their work situations, will lead to costly turnover - even in a down economy. Workers of all types, and especially those with college educations and professional skills, remain firmly in the driver's seat."

Results from the March Spherion Employment Report:

Confidence Levels Lowest Since 2004: The Spherion Employee Confidence Index dropped for the eighth consecutive month, decreasing 1.9 points to 46.5 in March. The Index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the macroeconomic environment, reveals that more workers are apprehensive about the future of their current employers and the availability of new jobs.

Details of the Index:

Macroeconomic Confidence:

- Fifty-eight percent of U.S. adult workers believe there are fewer jobs available, compared to 53 percent in the previous month.

- Six percent of U.S. adult workers believe the economy is getting stronger, unchanged from the previous month.

Personal Confidence:

- Sixty-three percent of U.S. adult workers feel confident in the future of their current employer, a slight decline of two percentage points from February.

- The percentage of U.S. adult workers confident in their ability to find a new job stayed the same at 53 percent.

Job Security: More Workers Believe it is Unlikely They will Lose Their Job

- Seventy-seven percent of U.S. workers believe that it is unlikely that they will lose their jobs in the next 12 months, a slight drop of one percentage point from February.

Job Transition: Fewer Workers Likely to Look for a New Job

- Thirty-five percent of workers are likely to look for a new job in the next twelve months, down one percentage point from last month.