SHENZHEN -- Foxconn plans to hire 18,000 skilled workers in China this year, its chairman said this week.

Terry Gou said during a Monday press conference the world's largest EMS/ODM would hire more than twice the number it usually does this season. About two-thirds of the planned new hires would be college graduates, the rest from vocational schools, he added. 

 Some observers said the timing of the announcement was meant to appease Chinese government officials who are concerned about finding jobs for the 8 million college graduates each year.