It depends on where you look. Robert Half's Confidence Matters survey shows how worker confidence levels have changed -- or remained steady -- since 2015.

1. Is Worker Confidence
Making a Comeback?
© 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.

2. 2 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
On a scale of 1 to 5 (where 1 means not at all confident and 5 means
extremely confident), how confident do you feel in the following
situations?
2015 2016 2017
Performance review 83% 81% 83%
Job interview 73% 67% 70%
Public speaking 66% 56% 57%
Negotiating salary at new job 61% 50% 54%
Asking for a raise 56% 46% 49%
(Percentages represent those responding 4 and 5.)

3. 3 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Thinking about your overall level of confidence in your job
prospects, are you more or less confident now compared
to one year ago?
2015 2016 2017
Much more 33% 21% 32%
Somewhat more 32% 29% 31%
No change 32% 42% 31%
Somewhat less 3% 7% 4%
Don’t know 0% 1% 2%

4. 4 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
When was the last time you checked your salary against
the market rate for your position, either through online
job listings, or a site like Glassdoor or Salary.com?
2015 2016 2017
Last 30 days 20% 11% 16%
Last 6 months 21% 15% 19%
Last year 18% 17% 19%
Last 5 years 10% 11% 11%
Never checked 27% 41% 32%
Don’t know 4% 5% 3%

5. 5 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Which of the following would you most rather do than
ask your employer for a raise in your salary?
2015 2016 2017
Clean house 32% 35% 36%
Look for new job 13% 10% 14%
Get root canal 7% 6% 5%
Be audited by IRS 6% 4% 4%
42% 45% 41%None of the above –
would rather ask for raise

6. 6 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
If you asked for a raise at your current employer and
did not receive one, what would be your next move?
2015 2016 2017
Wait for next performance review 30% 27% 31%
Ask for something else (e.g., perks) 24% 26% 25%
Look for new job 19% 19% 23%
Complain to someone other 9% 6% 5%
than the boss
Other 3% 4% 3%
Do nothing 8% 11% 6%
Don’t know 7% 7% 7%

7. 7 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
To what extent do you agree or disagree that you
deserve a raise at work?
2015 2016 2017
Strongly agree 52% 48% 47%
Somewhat agree 37% 39% 43%
Somewhat disagree 5% 6% 5%
Strongly disagree 1% 1% 0%
Not sure 5% 6% 5%

8. 8 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
On a scale of 1 to 5, how confident do you feel about the
stability of your current employer, where 1 is not at all
confident, and 5 is extremely confident?
2015 2016 2017
Extremely 44% 44% 43%
Somewhat confident 36% 36% 36%
Neutral 16% 14% 14%
Not very confident 3% 4% 4%
Not at all confident 1% 2% 3%

9. 9 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
Do you plan to ask for a raise this year?
2015 2016 2017
Yes 54% 37% 44%
No 31% 46% 36%
Don’t know 15% 17% 20%

10. 10 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
You mentioned you plan to ask for a raise this year.
Which of the following best describes why you
plan to do so?
2015 2016 2017
Salary hasn’t grown with job duties 31% 43% 38%
Need to make more to 25% 13% 18%
support lifestyle
Need to make more to cover 25% 22% 24%
basic needs
Salary doesn’t align with market rate 17% 19% 18%
Don’t know 2% 3% 2%

11. 11 © 2017 Robert Half International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans.
If you were to receive a raise at work, what would
you plan to do with the extra income?
2015 2016 2017
Put into savings/investment account 33% 39% 38%
Apply to debt 24% 28% 25%
Apply to daily living expenses 24% 20% 19%
Plan major purchase (car, house) 8% 5% 10%
Splurge on something (vacation, gifts) 6% 3% 4%
Something else 1% 1% 1%
Don’t know 4% 4% 3%

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