Though some IT research firms are predicting a slowdown in technology spending in 2008, CIOs aren't making big changes to their hiring plans in the first quarter of the new year, according to a survey released today by Robert Half Technology.

Thirteen percent of the 1,400 CIOs polled plan to hire new staff in the new year, compared with 14 percent who said they'd make new hires in the fourth quarter of 2007. Three percent of IT executives plan to cut jobs in the first quarter, up one percent from the previous quarter. The majority of respondents, 82 percent, say they won't make any staffing changes in the first quarter.

Business services firms have the highest hiring expectations, with 20 percent of CIOs anticipating adding new staff, according to the survey, followed by the financial services/insurance/real estate and transportation industries. Not surprisingly, with the number of people reducing their holiday spending due to rising energy prices, retail CIOs are planning the least amount of hiring in the first quarter. The retail industry expects a net 12 percent increase in new staff.

Windows administrators remain the top position CIOs are trying to fill. Next up: network administrators, followed by database managers and firewall administrators.

Investments in Web 2.0 development, wireless communication and network security are fueling demand for IT personnel, according to Robert Half Technology.