In the first quarter, one-third of employers added full-time, permanent employees, which is on par with 2007, and marks the highest increase since the recession began, according to a survey by jobsite CareerBuilder.

These numbers are expected to continue as 30 percent of respondents say they plan to add new full-time, permanent staff in April through June. Still, 6 percent of respondents plan to downsize staffs, reflecting a similar number from last year. Fifty-eight percent of respondents anticipate no changes, and 6 percent remain undecided.  

"We have moved from an anemic job market to one that is stable and growing," says Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder. "While still cautious, employers are feeling better about the state of the U.S. economy and the debt situation in Europe. Forty-one percent of companies reported their sales have increased over the last six months, which is helping to fuel greater confidence in hiring. The amount of job listings we're seeing for key categories on our site are similar to that of 2007. All indicators point to steady improvement in the job market in the second quarter and beyond."