The survey by WatsonWyatt found that 62% of companies that have made hiring freezes and 69%  of those that have made salary freezes plan to eliminate freezes within the next 12 months. And 48% that have reduced their employer 401(k)/403(b) matches plan to reinstate them over the next year.

More responses predicting 3-to-5-year trends at their companies:

• Employees working past retirement age?
  More: 79%
  No change: 18%
  Fewer: 2%
• Portion of healthcare costs paid by employees:
  More: 73%
  No change: 24%
  Less: 3%
• Difficulty retaining critical-skill employees
  More: 45%
  No change: 45%
  Less: 11%
• Salary-increase levels
  More: 28%
  No change: 45%
  Decrease: 26%
• Staff sizes
  Increases: 22%
  No change: 26%
  Decreases: 52%
• Employer contribution to 401(k) and similar plans
  Increase: 7%
  No change: 76%
  Decrease: 17%

More findings:

• 24% of the companies surveyed believe their results have “bottomed out,” approximately double the number of participants who thought so in April.
• 82% that will reverse hiring freezes will do so only partially, and retain them for some locations or positions.
• 78% of those who expect to reverse a salary freeze will do so for all employees, and 78% of those who expect to reverse a salary reduction will restore salaries to original levels.
• 39% will reverse at least some of their travel restrictions in the next 12 months or sooner.
• 55% noticed a decrease in participant contributions to 401(k) or 403(b) plans.

Click here to see the full report.