According to the Randstad Employee Confidence Index, employee confidence grew by 3.7 points in December to 55.4 for one of the highest optimism levels in the last year.

The Index last scored at least 55 in March 2012 as it hit 55.5. Thirty-one percent of respondents say the economy is strengthening, which is one of the highest readings of the year, while 23 percent of respondents agree more jobs are available, up from 20 percent in November.

"Our latest report is certainly a positive sign and a nice way to end a year that many classify as being a mixed bag," says Jim Link, managing director of human resources for Randstad US. "When you compare this month over December 2011's reading, we are looking at a significant eight-point increase. As various economic events occurred around us, such as the presidential election, economic conditions abroad and severe weather events, workers remained surprisingly confident throughout it all — with our Index falling only once under the 50 confidence threshold.