Considering growing concerns about the nation's economy, it's no surprise that companies plan to hold back on holiday hiring this year.

A new SnagAJob.com survey of 1,000 American managers shows that those responsible for hiring hourly workers for the holidays plan on hiring 3.7 employees, roughly 33 percent less than the 5.6 workers they hired during last year's holiday period. This figure includes the 57 percent of managers who say they don't plan on making any hires this year.

Managers who plan to hire at least one hourly holiday worker say they are looking to bring on nine seasonal workers on average, down 20 percent from the 11.2 employees they report having hired last year.

In addition, four in ten (39 percent) of hiring managers expect the number of applicants to rise this year over last, with about one half (52 percent) expecting the number to stay the same and only nine percent expecting fewer applicants.

"While these are tough times, the good news for employers is that applicant pools are likely to be more competitive and produce qualified applicants, said Shawn Boyer, CEO of SnagAJob.com. "To get in the door, job seekers will need to demonstrate a high level of enthusiasm and a positive attitude.

Most employers hiring this year will start the hiring process this month. Thirty six percent of those hiring managers will begin looking for workers in October, while 39 percent said they started looking in either August or September. Most managers said they expect to wrap up their hiring duties in November (35 percent), with some (20 percent) finishing by October and others hiring as late as December (28 percent).

Hiring managers anticipate that more than one half of the employees that they will hire this year are seasonal workers who have worked for them the year before. And, employers expect that almost one half (46 percent) of the employees they hire for the holidays will continue to work for them into the New Year.

It is expected that about 43 percent of seasonal employees will work full-time hours, with the rest of them working about an average of 20 hours a week. On average, seasonal workers will earn $10 an hour.