Not too long ago, you’d be hard pressed to find an American driving down the road in a Hyundai singing “Sweet Home Alabama.” Today’s New York Times reports a different story. Bonnie Raitt may croon “make me an angel that flies from Montgomery,” but the angel investor in the local economy appears to be Hyundai.

According to the Times, new Hyundai manufacturing facilities have brought thousands of jobs to Alabama, and increase in product quality and price appreciation has fueled consumer demand. Kia, Hyundai’s sister company is faring similarly well in Georgia. Both companies produced their highest profits ever in the U.S. in 2010.

Here are current job openings for Hyundai and Kia.

Source: The New York Times

The Manufacturing Sector in the New York State continues to improve. Employers expect a net gain in hiring for 2011.

Statewide openings include multiple openings at GLOBALFOUNDARIES (160) and GE Energy (127).

White collar employers hiring for positions covering the manufacturing sector include Deloitte (250) and PriceWaterhouseCoopers (85 in New York)

(Source: Bloomberg)