Action 9: It is a good time for job seekers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Extra time off. Gym memberships. Even free lunch.

Experts say employers are hurting for employees so they're offering more to attract and keep workers.

The well-known recruiting company, CareerBuilder, did a study. 

It found most employers, 63 percent, plan on hiring full-time workers before the year's out.  That's up 60 percent from last year.

They also plan to pay workers more. For example, 58 percent plan to give their employees raises.

And many employers plan to offer more perks, including:

"A few years ago, it was hard for people to actually get insurance and benefits with companies and now it's actually gone up," Charlotte worker Eric Pegram said.

Brian Minor works for a church.

He says -- usually -- some parents using the daycare struggle to find jobs.

But not lately.  "In fact, the only one that I knew that didn't have a job just got one last week," he told Action 9.

The reason is basic supply and demand.  There are more jobs openings, more time to fill them, a skills gap, and people -- like Meredith Swaim -- deciding to work for themselves.

"A lot of people are branching out to do more entrepreneur work," Swaim said.

Tony Ramos owns the McDonald's in Plaza-Midwood.  He's hiring and offers workers help with the GED and college.

"I personally have three folks that didn't have a high school diploma as i have now completed their diplomas and one of them is actually going on to do college work as well soon," he said.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

• Store owner shoots, kills man breaking into business, police say
• FDA issues worldwide recall of common blood pressure medication 
• Hundreds in the dark after vehicle takes out utility poles in east Charlotte
• WATCH: Keith Monday's Monday forecast outlook 
• 'A new low': 9-year-old boy selling lemonade robbed at gunpoint

Cox Media Group