According to a survey by Manpower, Inc., U.S. employers are guardedly optimistic about demand for their products and services and plan to hire more workers in the first quarter of next year. The survey polled 16,000 U.S. businesses and found that 20% plan to increase hiring and 13% plan to cut jobs. However, employers are often not hiring full-time workers, instead hiring temporary and part time workers.
See "Employers cautiously optimistic on hiring", Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, December 15, 2003