Lingering uncertainty over the economy is leading many big companies to limit the number of new graduates they plan to hire next spring to levels equal to or lower than this year, according to a survey compiled March 22.

Forty-eight of the 109 major firms responding to the questionnaire-based survey said they intend to hold employment of new graduates in spring 2011 roughly unchanged from this year.

Eighteen firms said they plan to cut the number of new hires while 19 companies, mainly in the manufacturing sector, said they are likely to increase hires.

About a quarter of the respondents said they expect next spring's job market to be more favorable for employers than this year, indicating that competition among students looking for jobs at leading companies will remain intense.