Rick Reed took the survey for the Sacramento-based employment firm Pacific Staffing. He says 67% of the Human Resource contacts he polled were positive about employee expansion in 2011.

"Right now, Sacramento is moving into its traditionally slowest period for hiring in the area. 51% of the companies however do say they will be hiring in the first quarter of 2011. Some sectors though remain flat - property development, construction, home products."

Reed says companies that are hiring are looking for people to fill positions in retail sales, service and manufacturing.

While 36% of the companies say they're hiring for replacement or attrition in their existing workforce, 31% report hiring motivated by the need for more workers in January, February and March.