Survey: Hiring plans of US CEOs at 3-year high

By TALI ARBEL AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) - A new survey shows the number of CEOs planning to ramp up hiring is at the highest level since mid-2007, suggesting big U.S. companies are growing more confident about the economic recovery.

The Business Roundtable, an association of CEOs of big U.S. companies, says its survey shows 39 percent of chief executives expect to boost their payrolls in the second half of 2010.

Only 17 percent say jobs will drop, while 43 percent expect no change in their current workforce.

The proportion of those planning to hire is at the highest level since mid-2007.

Companies are adding jobs as sales recover.

Despite renewed market fears of a hit to global growth because of economic trouble in Europe, 79 percent of CEOs say they expect sales to rise in the second half.