It's a pretty speculative report, but a new survey from a California-based staffing firm shows that executives in Illinois might start hiring again during the next three months:

A report released Thursday by Robert Half International said a net 12 percent of Illinois executives expect to hire more employees in the fourth quarter, an increase of 11 percentage points over sentiment measured in the third quarter. The company’s survey showed 19 percent of executives planned to staff up, while 7 percent were expecting to cut staff. Subtracting the 7 percent from the 19 percent generated the net 12 percent figure.

Those jobs couldn't open up soon enough. The national jobs report for August, released this morning, was bleak. Back home, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services found that child support payments collected from unemployed Illinoisans last fiscal year was the same as the amount collected over the past three years combined. Most of that money was garnished from measly unemployment benefits.