U.S. small and mid-sized business owners plan to delay hiring new employees, according to the biannual PNC economic outlook survey released today. Fifteen percent of small and mid-sized businesses expect to hire full-time employees, down from 28 percent in spring 2012 and 23 percent in fall 2012. Seventy-five percent expect hiring to remain the same and 8 percent expect a decrease. Of those hiring, one in four intend to rehire formerly laid-off employees or hire temporary staff for short-term needs.

The outlook about the U.S. economy during the next six months improved — 58 percent are optimistic and 41 percent are pessimistic — in a turnaround from fall’s 42 percent and 57 percent, respectively.

The telephone survey was conducted between Jan. 23 and Feb. 15, 2013 within the United States among 1,718 owners or senior decision-makers of small and mid-sized businesses with annual revenues of $100,000 to $250 million.