As we head into a new year, what can employees expect in the business world? With the economic downturn, employers will most likely be more careful when it comes to making hiring decisions. Fourteen percent of managers will increase their number of full-time workers in 2009, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com, which questioned 3,259 hiring mangers and HR professionals. Last year, 32 percent of employers hoped to add to their staff.

"The job market of 2008 suffered as the U.S. economy weakened and entered into a recession," says Matt Ferguson, CEO of CareerBuilder.com. "Looking ahead, recruitment levels are expected to be lower in the new year, but employers are not out of the mix completely; instead they're taking a 'wait and see' approach to hiring."

The South and West regions seem to be home to the highest number of staff expansions. Eighteen percent of managers in the South and 14 percent of employers in the West hope to increase their number of employees. This is in comparison to 13 percent of managers in the Midwest and 11 percent of employers in the Northeast. And job openings in professional and business services as well as information technology appear the most promising.

CareerBuilder.com provides hiring trends for the year 2009:

-- Higher salaries: Sixty-six percent of companies plan to raise salaries in 2009, compared to 80 percent of businesses in 2008.

-- Flexible work schedules: Thirty-one percent of managers want to provide these types of adaptable arrangements including alternate schedules (arrive early then leave early), telecommuting, compressed workweeks, summer hours or job sharing.

-- Green positions: Thirteen percent of businesses hope to develop green jobs, which will apply environmental policy, design and technology to improve conservation.

-- Internet as a recruitment tool: Nineteen percent of employers will put money toward online recruitment sites compared to other employment options such as newspaper classifieds or career fairs.

-- Freelance hiring: Twenty-eight percent of managers plan to hire freelancers or contractors to help their staffs.

-- Keep retirees: Seventeen percent of employers anticipate recruiting retirees from other companies, while 12 percent of managers will probably offer older workers incentives to stay.

JOBS TO LOOK FOR IN 2009 Continued...