A majority of business executives on the Chinese mainland expect to do more hiring in the second quarter, but their optimism is flagging, according to a report released on Wednesday.

About 60 percent of 650 executives interviewed by the Hudson Report forecast increased hiring in the second quarter of 2012, a decrease from 66 percent in the previous quarter.

Although the number of executives who expected to hire was the lowest in a year's time, it was still twice the number in Hong Kong and Singapore and shows "positive" hiring willingness on the Chinese mainland, according to Cherol Cheuk, general manger of Hudson Shanghai.

Executives in the information technology industry expressed the strongest willingness to hire, with 65 percent of those interviewed saying they would open up more posts in the second quarter. Leaders in the banking and financial services sectors were also optimistic, with 59 percent saying they planned to hire, up about 3 percent from the previous quarter.

Hudson is a leading provider of permanent recruitment, contract professionals, and talent management services worldwide. It released its first report on China in 2003.