As today's economic recovery is slow and unpredictable, mid-market executives are adapting to managing this uncertainty, according to Deloitte's new survey, "Mid-Market Perspectives: 2012 Report on America's Economic Engine."

"Because of the significantly slower growth than we've seen in previous recoveries, mid-market executives are increasingly cautious about their expectations for 2012," says Tom McGee, national managing partner, Deloitte Growth Enterprise Services, Deloitte LLP. "Mid-market companies are now trying to meet the challenges of this volatile economy by taking a more adaptable approach to managing certain key business fundamentals."

Last year, respondents were overly optimistic about hiring plans while respondents in 2012 are investing in their people and moderating plans to bring on new employees. In fact, 42 percent of respondents plan to hire more domestic workers, a decline from 48 percent in 2011. Recruiting is also a problem as every respondent reports it being difficult to find skilled workers, particularly those in engineering, health care and information technology.