While leading economists expect the economy and job market to steadily improve through 2011, many employers and their employees are struggling to stay afloat under the weight of increasingly heavier workloads and high stress loads.

Express Employment Professionals, one of the world's largest staffing firms with more than 550 locations in four countries, recently surveyed 9,340 current and former clients on stress levels at work. Results revealed that 36 percent of workers feel "very high" or "overwhelming" stress at work, and 49 percent say their current work stress has increased since last year. Additionally, 68 percent of workers state their current workloads have increased.

"I can't say we're surprised by the results," said Robert A. Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals. "Coming out of the recession, employers are hesitant to hire full-time workers due to uncertainty of new banking, tax and health care regulations. As a result, staff members are working double-time in an attempt to keep up. But they are also in danger of burn out in a time when their employers need them most."

The survey also found that employees of small businesses (1-50 employees) are feeling the greatest level of stress, compared to medium (51-499 employees) and large businesses (500 or more employees).

Despite the struggling job market and overstressed workforce, however, Express remains optimistic about the coming year. According to a national hiring trends study conducted by the company, which surveyed 15,070 respondents, 29 percent plan to hire for commercial positions, 19 percent plan to add administrative jobs and 12 percent have plans to hire for engineering positions. Overall, Express franchise owners are reporting a 47 percent surge in hiring in 2010, and the company has found jobs for 290,000 people since January. Companies using staffing firms for recruiting and filling current and former clients, commercial, administrative and engineering positions will likely see increases in the first quarter of 2011. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of workers placed by temporary staffing agencies overall has risen, with 404,000 jobs added since September 2009.

"Companies across the country continue to rely on staffing firms to recruit and fill positions in a variety of professional, commercial and administrative jobs," Funk said. "Though we're still seeing hesitancy from employers when it comes to hiring full-time staff, it is without question that companies have work that needs to be done. Many are turning to a flexible staff to meet their needs and ease the stress on existing workers."