Employers in the US are more optimistic about the jobs market with most employers planning to maintain headcount for the rest of the year, according to CareerBuilder and USA Today’s Q4 2009 Jobs Forecast.

In the third quarter of the year, the number of firms increasing the number of permanent workers was unchanged from the second quarter at 18%, while 15% saw staffing levels decrease and the majority (65%) saw no change in full time employee numbers.

In the next quarter, 17% expect to recruit more workers, 10% expect a decrease and 68% predict no change.

 “Companies are switching their focus from cost containment to growth. Employers who have instituted pay cuts or layoffs in the last year are reporting that they have begun to restore compensation levels and rehire employees,” says Matt Ferguson, chief executive of CareerBuilder.

“While these are positive indicators, the pace of hiring will remain restrained. It will take time to rebuild the confidence needed in the nation’s economy to trigger more robust recruitment programs.”