One of every five employers in the United States plans to hire more full time permanent employees in 2010, according to Careerbuilder.com and its Harris-conducted online survey of 2700 hiring managers and human resource professionals. As reported by Reuters.com, this is a considerable jump from the 14 percent hiring expectation one year ago. Of those surveyed, 9 percent will be reducing their employee numbers, down from the 16 percent cut of 2009. The majority – 61 percent – do not plan to change their staffing levels.

“There’s definitely an uptick. The number of employers who say they’re going to add full-time workers is up from last year, and that is very good news,” said Michael Erwin, senior career advisor at CareerBuilder, in the report.

One third of the hiring employers will be filling technology positions, 28 percent will look for customer service staff, and 23 percent will increase their sales force.

“The employers we’re talking to are really shifting from cost containment,” Erwin said. “Now it’s really about growth so I think you’re going to see customer service jobs added, sales jobs added. “Those are really what can grow the business and make the money come back and get the customers back,” he said.

What are not on the rise, however, are salaries and benefits. Clearly, employers are being cautious with their spending. While 57 percent expect to increase salaries for current employees, this is a decrease from 2009′s 65 percent expectation. Many – 37 percent -  will cut benefits such as medical coverage, bonuses and matching contributions to 401(k)s. The same percentage will replace low-performing employees with new hires.

The survey was conducted online for CareerBuilder.com by Harris Interactive from November 5 to November 23. CareerBuilder is owned by Gannett Co Inc, Tribune Co, McClatchy Co and Microsoft Corp.