Employers say white-collar job freezes are headed for a spring thaw

As the stock market and some economic indicators keep trending higher -- along with the unemployment rate -- experts are increasingly championing the "jobless recovery" scenario.

But there are some encouraging signs for white-collar workers. A survey of employers from human resources consultants Watson Wyatt says half the companies in its bimonthly poll -- about 200 large employers -- plan to roll back hiring and wage freezes they put in place as a response to the recession. Also, a third plan to roll back cuts in contributions to their 401(k) plans.