Though unemployment was climbing last month to a rate unanticipated by the experts, a survey found that employees’ confidence was rebounding.

The Spherion Employee Confidence Index increased 2.3 points to 42.7 in January, up from a survey low of 40.4 in December. The index measures workers’ confidence in their personal employment situation and is a measure of optimism about the economy, according to Spherion Corp., which publishes the survey conducted by Harris Interactive.

Workers are confident that they find a new job of their existing one disappears or they tire of it and search for a new job.

“Although difficult to pinpoint the exact cause, overall confidence may have been given a boost due to lower gas prices, a new administration and anticipation of a stimulus plan that promises to create and preserve jobs, as well as a possible extension of emergency unemployment benefits,” Spherion President and CEO Roy Krause said in a news release.

The survey found that 7 percent of workers believe the economy is getting stronger and showed decreases in the numbers of workers who believe the economy is weakening and that there are fewer jobs available.

Age also played a role in perceptions. Workers age 45 years and older were the least confident about the strength of the economy and those age 55 and older were the most optimistic about the overall health of their employers.

Workers age 18 to 34 were the most likely to say they would look for a new job in the next year.

Overall, 72 percent of workers doubted that they would lose their jobs over the next year.