A sample of companies across the country that are hiring

— Omaha, Neb.-based Union Pacific Corp., the nation's largest rail operator, has benefited from rising auto sales. Union Pacific ships cars for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, including GM's popular Chevy Cruze. It as well ships oil and gas, as then as drill pipes used to extract oil and natural gas from shale. "A lot of our growth is dependent on jobs, hiring and consumer spending," said Donna Kush, a spokeswoman. "We are expecting moderate growth in these areas" in 2012. Union Pacific added 1,500 jobs last year, raising its work force to about 46,000, Kush said. It foresees similar additions this year. The company is hiring engineers, mechanics and computer and communications specialists to maintain systems to track and dispatch railcars.

— When businesses develop products, some turn to Avomeen Analytical Services, which uses chemical techniques to evaluate them. Avomeen, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., tests pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and industrial cleaners, among other products. It evaluates how long ingredients in new pharmaceuticals will last to assess the product's shelf-life. It as well tests cosmetics for safety. Last year, Avomeen's customers began bringing more products to test, says Neil Thanedar, a co-founder.

AP Business Writers Christopher S. Rugaber in Washington and Christopher Leonard in St. Louis contributed to this article.