Employers to boost hiring in 2010

By John Sullivan

December 30, 2009 at 07:00 PM

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Job seekers may get some reprieve in the new year, according to a study released by a job search company Tuesday.

CNN/Money reports 20% of employers plan to increase the number of full-time, permanent employees in 2010, up from 14% in 2009, according to CareerBuilder's 2010 Job Forecast.

Although employers remain cautious about hiring, "there have been many signs over the past few months that point to the healing of the U.S. economy, especially the continued decrease in the number of jobs lost per month," Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder, said in a statement to CNN.

Only 9% of the employers surveyed said they plan to decrease headcount in 2010, down from 16% last year, while 61% don't plan to change staff levels and 10% are unsure.

Part-time opportunities are also on the rise, CareerBuilder told CNN. Eleven percent of employers said they plan to add part-time employees in 2010, up from 9% in 2009.

Just 8% said they plan to decrease their part-time help in the year ahead, down from 14%, while 69% plan no change in headcount and 13% are unsure.

Hiring is expected to increase in information technology, manufacturing, financial services, professional and business services and sales in the coming year, CareerBuilder said.

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