A majority of hiring managers, 52 percent, plan to hire more professionals in the second half of 2013 than they did in the first half, up from 46 percent who said they planned to increase hiring in the first six months of 2013, according to a national survey conducted by job board operator Dice Holdings Inc. (NYSE: DHX).

The survey also found that 39 percent of hiring managers and recruiters say voluntary departures have increased this year — motivated by increased salaries, better career opportunities elsewhere, and better job title or promotion — up from 32 percent who reported increasing quits six months ago.

Fifty-one percent of the respondents with less than 50 employees said their company was not making plans to keep headcount below 50 employees Care Health Care Act, compared to 17 percent of small company respondents that were taking steps to stay under that level. However, when looking at shifts in the types of hiring in 2013, employers, regardless of size, anticipate using more contractors, temporary staffing and part-time employees than six months ago.

On sequestration, 64 percent said the mandatory spending cuts had no impact on their business, 15 percent suffering a direct effect and 21 percent reported an indirect impact.

“Hiring managers and recruiters are perpetually more optimistic about the second half of the year, but this is the first notable increase we’ve seen in confidence from professionals,” said Scot Melland, chairman, president and CEO of Dice Holdings. “That said, we will likely continue to have modest job creation for the balance of the year due to slow economic growth, continued challenges in finding qualified talent and the negative impacts from sequestration that go beyond defense to key sectors like healthcare, technology, consulting, education, non-profits and manufacturing.”

Dice Holdings surveyed U.S. companies, government entities and recruiting firms nationwide from May 14 to May 17, 2013. More than 1,100 hiring professionals responded to the survey.