The UK has demonstrated the highest increases in candidate confidence, according to a global survey from recruitment giant Randstad.

The latest quarterly Workmonitor survey reveals in Q1 two thirds of UK employees (64%) are confident that they could secure comparable work with a different employer within six months, up 8% on Q4 2010.

The greatest drop in confidence over the quarter was in India, which saw a 6 percentage point drop, while the lowest levels of confidence were recorded in Japan, where only a third (34.8%) of workers felt confident in their ability to land a comparable job. Greece saw a 10 percentage point decline.

Mark Bull, CEO at Randstad UK, says: “Although the recession formally ended in Autumn 2009 it continued to cast a long shadow over job seeking behaviour. Many employees remained too fearful to explore career options external to their organisation until they were more certain of our economic footing. Despite public sector challenges that fear is now evaporating. This increase in confidence is welcome news for UK plc and will ensure businesses can attract the top talent and fresh ideas needed to sustain the UK’s continued recovery.”