More companies plan to hire workers, including contract professionals, in the first half of next year, according to a report by professional staffing firm Robert Half.

Its survey of hiring managers found that 63% of respondents plan to add new permanent positions during the first half of 2025. That’s up from 52% six months ago.

In addition, 34% plan to staff vacated positions in the first half of next year, and 63% will increase the number of contract professionals on their teams.

“Given these results, companies are clearly optimistic about their hiring outlook for 2025,” Dawn Fay, operational president of Robert Half, said in a press release.

Reasons for the hiring include company growth, cited by 56%; emergence of new projects, cited by 48%; and employee turnover rates, cited by 47%.

Still, employers will need a plan of action when it comes to recruiting, Fay said. Without such a plan, organizations risk delaying critical initiatives and putting strain on existing employees. Robert Half also cited the impact of not filling roles in a timely manner, including stretched bandwidth and employee burnout, 42%; delayed project timelines, 39%; and decreased employee productivity, 37%.

And when it comes to strategies for securing and retaining top talent, hiring managers reported that along with competitive salaries, the most important are developing or enhancing mentorship programs, 35%; hiring contract professionals for potential full-time roles; 33%; offering paid internships, 32%; and rehiring retired employees as consultants, 22%.

“Retaining top talent will be just as critical as attracting it in 2025,” Fay added. “The most successful organizations are routinely evaluating compensation, providing career development opportunities and offering perks to keep employees engaged and productive.”

The survey took place in November and includes responses from more than 1,680 hiring managers in finance/accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and human resources at firms with 10 or more employees in the US.