DETROIT - Ford says it plans to hire 2,200 engineers, computer programmers and other white-collar workers this year as U.S. demand for new vehicles picks up.

That's in addition to the 8,100 salaried and hourly jobs Ford added in the U.S. last year as it increased production and introduced new cars. U.S. car and truck sales rose 13 per cent to 14.5 million in 2012, the highest level in five years.

Ford will use social media to find tech-savvy candidates. It's also stepping up recruitment of military veterans.

Honda says it plans to create 50 new jobs in Ohio when it starts building the new hybrid Accord sedan there later this year.

And Nissan announced it will hire 400 people by the end of next year to make the Murano crossover in Mississippi.

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