Germany's Volkswagen plans to create some 8,500 new jobs worldwide in 2008 after several lean years at the biggest European car maker, a company spokesman said Sunday. ( AFP )
The spokesman confirmed remarks in the German press by human resources chief Horst Neumann, who said half of the positions would be created in Germany.
VW currently has about 329,000 people employed worldwide, some 169,000 in its home market.
The majority of the new positions - about 5,500 - will primarily go to young college graduates or apprentices, the spokesman said.
The remaining 3,000 will go to people currently working for the company on a temporary basis in new plants in countries such as India and Russia.
The manufacturer laid off thousands of people around the world in recent years as part of a restructuring drive.