The Rasmussen Employment Index, a monthly measure of U.S. worker confidence in the employment market, gained three points in August to 82.2.

Typically, an increase in the Employment Index suggests that the government report on job creation will be better than the month before. But the results for August remain very weak. The past three months are the only times time that the Employment Index has been below 82.9 in its five-year history (See history).

The gain was fueled primarily by increased confidence in personal finances. Forty-two percent (42%) of U.S. workers now say their personal finances are good or excellent. That’s up two percentage points from a month ago.

Twenty-six percent (26%) say their finances are getting better, also up two points from July.

However, nearly half (49%) say their finances are getting worse. That pessimistic assessment is actually a four-point improvement compared to a month ago when 53% said their finances were getting worse.

In August, 21% of workers reported that their firms were hiring while 20% say their firms are laying people off.

The Rasmussen Employment Index is based upon telephone interviews with approximately 9,000 employees each month. Results are released on the Tuesday preceding the government report on employment.

A related survey, the Discover Small Business Watch, found that the confidence of small business owners increased for the second straight month in August.

Another survey, the Rasmussen Consumer Index, has found consumer and investor confidence improving to five month highs after hitting all-time lows in June.