Thirty-one percent of employers said they increased their number of full-time, permanent employees from January through March while 57 percent reported no change and 11 percent reported a reduction in headcount and one percent was unsure, according to CareerBuilder.com’s survey, titled "Q2 2008 Job Forecast," conducted by Harris Interactive, tracking projected hiring trends for the upcoming quarter. Looking ahead, 29 percent of employers plan to grow their number of full-time, permanent employees from April through June while 59 percent anticipate no change and 6 percent expect to decrease headcount. Six percent are unsure.

"The job loss reported in the first quarter signified a gradual deceleration in recruitment in the U.S. as the nation's economy downshifted," said Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder.com. "In the next three months, employers anticipate marginal change in their hiring pace. While some industries are experiencing a contraction in employment levels, areas such as information technology, healthcare, professional and business services and sales continue to add full-time jobs." Certain industries and functions continue to outpace other areas in terms of producing new jobs. Forty-five percent of IT employers expect to add full-time, permanent employees in the second quarter followed by 36 percent in sales, 32 percent in professional and business services and 30 percent in large healthcare organizations.