Only 26 percent of CEOs anticipate an increase in employment levels in their industry, down from about 42 percent a year ago. However, the proportion of CEOs who anticipate a decrease eased to 28 percent from about 32 percent a year ago.
On a separate question, health care costs remain the major obstacle to hiring new workers.
Regulation and litigation costs were second on the list, while wage and salary costs and other fringe benefits were of lesser concern when hiring new workers.