U.S. Companies Optimistic on Hiring, Wages in First Quarter

Rising sales helped boost hiring at U.S. businesses in the last three months of 2014. Now companies are optimistic that continued improvement in business conditions will bring increased employment and wages in the current quarter, according to a new survey released Monday by the National Association for Business Economics. 54% of the respondents said sales at their companies increased in the October-December period. That was up 5% in the third quarter. 51% of respondents said they expect wages and salaries to increase at their company, that's up sharply from the fourth-quarter. 36% said they expect their companies to hire more workers, up from 31%. So, where are the jobs? Finance, insurance, and real estate companies were most likely to see the biggest job increases. As for those least likely to add jobs: transportation, utilities, and communications.