(Source: PRNewswire)FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Spherion Employee Confidence Index registered at its highest level since December 2007, increasing 3.2 points to 49.9 in August. The Index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, reveals that a higher percentage of U.S. workers are confident in the strength of the economy. Other key indices remained stable or showed slight increases from July's results.

"U.S. worker confidence appears to be gaining some momentum. In fact, our latest Index is at its highest level since our December 2007 report," said Roy Krause, President and CEO of Spherion Corporation. "Although the general economic situation seems to be getting a little better, we're still not out of the woods yet. We are finding that many employers have cut so deep into their staff that they are having a difficult time maintaining operational levels - which should indicate that additional hiring in on the horizon. However, it is still difficult to pinpoint an exact timeframe when we will begin to see a significant pick-up. As temporary employment is usually a leading indicator to the first signs of a recovery, many organizations and economists are watching these numbers in hopes that they turn positive in the next few months."

A Look Inside the Report:

Confidence in Overall Situation:

The Spherion Employee Confidence Index registered at its highest level since December 2007, increasing 3.2 points to 49.9 in August. The Index, which measures workers' confidence in their personal employment situation and optimism in the economic environment, reveals that a higher percentage of U.S. workers are confident in the strength of the economy. Other key indices remained stable or showed slight increases from July's results.

Confidence in Macroeconomic Environment:

-- Twenty-four percent of U.S. workers believe the economy is getting

stronger, increasing eight percentage points from July.

-- Sixty-nine percent of workers surveyed believe there are fewer jobs

available, decreasing three percentage points from the previous month.

Conversely, eight percent of U.S. adult workers surveyed believe there

are more jobs available compared to six percent in July.

Confidence in Personal Employment Situation:

-- The percentage of workers reporting confidence in the future of their

current employers showed no change from the previous month (64 percent).

-- Slightly more workers are confident in their ability to find a new job.

Specifically, 40 percent compared to 39 percent registered in July.