More than half of Iowa small and medium-sized employers were either somewhat or very optimistic about job growth in their industry in the second quarter, according to the Hamilton Hiring Survey.

The second-quarter survey of more than 5,000 Iowa businesses found that 55 percent of employers felt optimistic, up from 47 percent in the same period a year ago.

The survey is conducted by West Des Moines-based Hamilton Group.

The survey also found that 9 percent of new jobs are expected to be at a senior level, and 3 percent of respondents plan to reduce their work forces, which is the lowest level in four quarters.

Despite more optimism, half of employers surveyed indicated that they would take a wait-and-see approach to hiring, indicating there would be no change in their work forces or they were undecided about future hiring.

Hamilton Group projected that the Iowa unemployment rate will remain between 5.3 and 5.7 percent in the third quarter.