Twenty-six percent of employers plan to hire temporary or contract workers in the second quarter compared to 29 percent who said they did hire such contingents in the first quarter, according to survey results released today by CareerBuilder.

In addition, 17 percent of employers surveyed said they plan to transition contract or temporary staff into permanent positions in the second quarter.

The survey also found that 28 percent of employers intend to increase their full-time, permanent headcount in the second quarter while only 6 percent plan to cut staff.

In the first quarter, 28 percent of employers said they hired full-time, permanent employees -- the highest percentage since the first quarter of 2008.

"While employers are keeping a close eye on world events, their confidence levels in regard to recruitment have remained intact," said CareerBuilder CEO Matt Ferguson. "Job listings on CareerBuilder are up across all categories, from healthcare and technology to manufacturing. Our latest survey points to continued, measured gains over the next three months. As the nation moves toward greater financial stability, more employers are investing in talent for the long-term."

The survey took place from Feb. 21 to March 10 and included 2,800 hiring managers and human resource professionals and more than 5,600 workers across industries and company sizes.