SAN JOSE — Layoffs are being actively contemplated among about 18 percent of the major employers in Silicon Valley amid the widening economic fallout unleashed by the coronavirus, a new survey shows.

The survey suggests that a considerable amount of economic gloom is about to descend on Silicon Valley amid the coronavirus woes, although numerous employers also say they intend to continue hiring recruits, a Silicon Valley Leadership Group poll shows.

“We think it is going to be helpful for employers to learn from each other,” said Carl Guardino, president of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. “There is a real thirst on the part of Silicon Valley companies to learn from each other. That thirst is really being heightened during COVID-19.”

An estimated 18 percent of employers surveyed by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group responded that they had either gotten to the point where they must undertake layoffs, or they were contemplating job cuts.

When asked whether they were now in a position where “layoffs are necessary,” 13 percent responded yes. When asked if they were “considering layoffs,” 5 percent replied yes, according to the results of the Leadership Group survey, which was conducted during the week of March 30.

“My fear is that the number of companies that say they are planning layoffs is only going to grow,” Guardino said.

On a hopeful note, 61 percent of the respondents said they were either continuing to hire or were still hiring at the usual pace of increasing their staffing levels.

“We are still hiring, but only for essential positions” was how 42 percent responded to the poll questions. “Business as usual regarding our hiring needs and policies” was how 19 percent described their current recruiting and staffing efforts, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group poll determined.

Another 21 percent of the companies that responded stated that they have frozen hiring at present.

The Silicon Valley Leadership Group received responses from the top executives of 100 companies.

Employers were also asked: whether companies have changed their sick leave and personal time off policies, what measures are they taking to ensure business continuity and protect the health of employees and customers, does the organization fall into the “essential employers” category, what are some experiences of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19.

For employees who personally tested positive for coronavirus, or whose family members had tested positive, it was difficult for 21.5 percent to find a testing site or to have the test administered, or both. Just 8.6 percent said it was easy to find a testing site and have the test administered, according to the Leadership Group survey.

“The scary response is we are hearing from employers that it is difficult if not almost impossible to get tested,” Guardino said.

Related Articles Reopening California theme parks: What’s the rush?

Unemployment fraud rings are using “complex” schemes

California jobless claims: 8.6 million amid shutdowns

California jobless claims: “startlingly high”

Patrick James closes store amid coronavirus An estimated 57 percent of respondents said sick leave and time-off policies haven’t changed, while 43 percent of the organizations that responded had changed those policies.

The Leadership Group reported that 73 percent of the organizations surveyed were following social distancing practices, 72 percent were providing hygienic products such as hand sanitizers or masks, 27 percent were providing health screenings for front-line employees, and 17 percent were providing more health-related facilities such as wash stations or sinks.

“In Silicon Valley, we are competing daily with each other,” Guardino said. “We may find we need to collaborate and cooperate with each other to a greater extent.”