Fifty-six percent of hiring managers and recruiters indicated they would be hiring more professionals in the second half of 2014 than the first half of the year, according to survey results released today by Dice Holdings Inc.

That compares with 55 percent of respondents who felt at the start of the year that they would hire more professionals in the first half of 2014 than the second half of 2013. 

Dice surveyed 806 hiring professionals from U.S. companies, government entities and recruiting firms between May 12 and 16.

Twenty-eight percent of respondents said current conditions have changed their hiring plans for the better, which compares to 22 percent who felt that way during the first half of the year.

 Only 11 percent of hiring managers said there was a likelihood of layoffs in the next six months, which was the lowest number reported since Dice began the survey in 2008.

Job candidates are asking for higher salaries than they were six months ago, 48 percent of respondents said, and 49 percent of respondents said salaries for new hires are greater than last year. That’s the highest percentage since June 2008. Also, 53 percent of corporate hiring managers said salaries for existing staff are higher than last year.

Dice, a New York-based company with operations in Urbandale, is a provider of specialized websites for professional communities.

Read more: http://www.businessrecord.com/Content/HR—Education/HR—Education/Article/Hiring-managers-feel-good-about-the-economy/165/799/63840#ixzz34RNfeaFe