Chief executives plan to hire this year and want to prevent layoffs, according to the results of a survey by software company Greenhouse released Feb. 7. 

In the survey of 300 CEOs, 54% said they would trim their real estate footprint to avoid laying off workers. Sixty-eight percent said they intend to up their employee headcount this year. 

“Some companies will be forced to reduce costs to protect future growth. However, this study shows that CEOs appreciate that their talent is their greatest asset, and they are considering every other course of action before jobs are lost,” Greenhouse CEO and Co-Founder Daniel Chait said in a news release. 

Of those surveyed, 81% were at least somewhat optimistic about the economic outlook for the first six months of 2023, while 84% were encouraged by what the second half of the year might bring. 

CEOs predicted that high wages, job security and healthcare, vision and dental benefits would be the top priorities for job candidates this year. Nearly 40% of chief executives think candidates will expect hybrid or flexible work, and 33% said there will be a continued focus on DEI initiatives.

“The number of jobs and offers has decreased, but candidates are still turning down offers at a rate of 11% to 12%, showing that they are still in an advantageous negotiating position,” Chait said. “CEOs are still predicting a skills shortage and employment levels remaining high.”