Thirty-two percent of employers plan to add full-time staff in 2008, compared with 40% at this same time last year, according to CareerBuilder.com's 2008 job forecast survey.

Eight percent plan to decrease staff in 2008, while 47% expect no change and 13% are unsure.

"Looking forward, plans for hiring are tracking below last year's projections, but point to continued job creation," said CareerBuilder CEO Matt Ferguson. "Employers are taking caution in the New Year, anticipating the advent of a slower but still steady hiring environment."

Hiring expectations are strongest in the South and West for 2008. Thirty-six percent of employers in the South expect to add full-time staff, while 34% in the West do. And 31% in the Northeast plan to add full-time staff, while 28% in the Midwest do.

In the top industries for 2008 hiring expectations — professional and business services and information technology — 45% of employers expect to add staff.

The survey questioned 3,016 hiring managers.