Corporate bigwigs still on a hiring spree

At a time when most of the multinational firms are cutting costs and trimming workforce to combat the economic slowdown, many industry giants like General Motors China, McDonald's, Johnson&Johnson Medical China and Wal-Mart have said they are still hiring in the country.

Ten companies confirmed that they had expansion or recruitment plans in China this year, during the 2009 Hewitt Best Employers in China session on Thursday.

Fast food chain McDonald's said it would open 175 new restaurants in China this year. "We are ambitious on the Chinese market," said Jeffrey Schwartz, CEO of McDonald's China. The company plans to hire around 10,000 employees this year for the new 175 restaurants.