Survey shows tech firms more optimistic about hiring

Despite ongoing concerns about a double-dip recession, almost half of technology firms surveyed expect to increase their headcount during the next six months, according to the consulting firm Grant Thornton.

“As businesses continue to generate significant profits, this provides the funding for investments in new and improved technology which in turn is fueling the optimism expressed by technology industry executives,” said Cal Hackeman, National Managing Partner of the Grant Thornton's technology industry practice.

A survey of 516 senior financial executives at American firms, including 46 technology companies, shows the majority (51 percent) expect to keep their number of employees steady, but tech firms specifically were more likely to add personnel (46 percent vs. 37 percent).

Both groups predicted the U.S. economy will remain the same over the next six months.

“The technology industry was among the first to emerge from the economic downturn," Hackerman noted, predicting both 2010 and 2011 would see continued expansion in the tech sector.

The tech sector was also on pace with the broader survey in their fears of a double-dip recession, with 59 percent expressing concern. Technology executives, however, were more optimistic about their own firms' prospects with 63 percent expecting things to improve vs. 46 percent of all executives.

Tech executives were slightly more upbeat about the prospects for the U.S. economy as a whole, with more than 60 percent predicting it would recover by the end of 2011.