Business executives are optimistic about hiring, especially for the third quarter, according to Robert Half's Professional Employment Report. Here are some of the findings:

• Ninety-two percent of executives interviewed said they are confident about their growth outlook for the third quarter of 2011; 44 percent said they are very confident.
• Eighty-six percent expressed confidence for the second-quarter.
• Ninety percent do not foresee any change in staff levels during the third quarter.
• A net 3 percent of executives intend to add professional-level staff in the third quarter.
• Forty-two percent of respondents report challenges finding skilled professionals today, up from 37 percent in the second-quarter survey.
• Businesses in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington forecast the most hiring, with a net 6 percent of executives in those states planning to add professional-level staff in the third quarter.
• The strongest hiring activity is likely to come from the legal and marketing fields, with a net 30 percent of lawyers and a net 19 percent of marketing executives planning to add new staff.
• A net 6 percent of executives in the construction sector anticipate staff additions.

The Robert Half Professional Employment Report is based on telephone interviews with more than 4,000 C-level executives and other leaders. The Robert Half Professional Employment Report is the first quarterly executive survey of its size and scope to concentrate exclusively on professional-level hiring.