More than half (51 percent) of hiring managers and recruiters plan to hire during the second half of 2012, according to a new report released today by Dice Holdings Inc.

Twenty-six percent of respondents said current conditions have sparked an increase in their companies’ and clients’ hiring plans, compared with 21 percent six months ago. Respondents planning to curtail hiring fell to 23 percent from 30 percent six months ago.

"The tilt back toward optimism continues to support modest job growth, despite the slower gains of the last few months," said Scot Melland, chairman, president and CEO of Dice Holdings Inc. "However, the moderate job creation doesn't appear to have instilled enough confidence for professionals to change employers easily. We have yet to see the surge in turnover that typically accompanies more than two years of consistent job growth."

Dice operates career websites for information technology, engineering, financial services and other professionals. More than 1,000 hiring professionals were involved in its survey.