A survey by job-board operator Dice Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DHX) found 52% of firms plan to cut back on hiring in the next six months. Forty-three percent said they weren't changing their current hiring plans, while 5% were unsure.

Sixty percent of firms said they don't know when hiring will return to normal.

More than 1,100 U.S. companies and recruiting firms responded to Dice's survey.