More US CEOs expect job increases than losses

NEW YORK (AP) - For the first time in two years, more CEOs expect to be adding jobs than cutting jobs.

A survey by Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of big U.S. companies, says 29 percent of chief executives expect to increase corporate payrolls over the next six months, while 21 percent predict that their work forces will shrink. Half see no change in jobs.

In the fourth quarter of 2009, only 19 percent expected their payrolls would grow.

Company leaders are also optimistic about business prospects ahead of the reporting season for second-quarter earnings. About 73 percent say they expect sales to grow over the next half-year, 23 percent forecast no change, and only 5 percent predict shrinking sales.