Thirty-one percent of employers say they are planning to hire executive-level positions over the next six months, an increase of 23 percent from October's forecast, according to a recent survey by CareerBuilder and HeadHunter.com.

Among the respondents looking to hire executives, they expect to hire in business development at 24 percent, information technology at 23 percent, sales at 22 percent, marketing at 19 percent, and accounting and finance at 19 percent.

"Hiring trends for executive-level management mirror what we're seeing in the labor market for all workers," says Brent Rasmussen, president of CareerBuilder North America. "As companies look to expand their sales force, develop new products and improve their tech infrastructure, the need for diverse, experienced leadership grows along with these initiatives."