U.S. employee confidence fell sharply in February, as workers grew anxious about personal finances, layoffs and job security, according to surveys released on Wednesday.

The employee confidence index in Hudson Highland Group’s latest survey of 9,000 workers fell to 102.0, its lowest level in 12 months and down sharply from 106.2 in January.

Job loss fears were at their highest in more than a year, as one of five employees surveyed feared the loss of his or her job. The number of workers expecting their companies to lay off employees rose to 18 percent in February from 16 percent in January.

A separate survey of more than 3,000 workers by staffing firm Spherion Corp. found overall employee confidence held steady with January’s level, but employees showed slight decreases in personal confidence, confidence about the future of their companies, and confidence in their ability to find a job.

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