North American businesses plan to hire more workers in the first quarter of 2017, according to Express Employment Professionals’ hiring trends survey, released today.

The survey found 76% of businesses plan to hire new workers in the first quarter of 2017, while only 9% plan to eliminate positions. Overall, the results are a slight improvement from the fourth quarter of 2016, when 72% said they planned to hire, and from the first quarter of 2016, when 69% said they planned to hire.

Almost one-third of businesses surveyed, 32%, plan to make hires in general labor, with 34% of that group planning to create new positions. Twenty-six percent plan to hire skilled labor, while 20% plan to hire administrative and office clerical staff.

“These are certainly positive signs,” said Express CEO Bob Funk. “More businesses are planning to hire, and only a fraction are eliminating positions.”

The survey of 1,951 businesses, which are current and former clients of Express Employment Professionals, covers hiring trends for the first quarter of 2017.