FACTBOX-Companies adding jobs despite downturn

April 21 (Reuters) - Tesco (TSCO.L), the world's No.3 retailer, posted a 10 percent rise in underlying annual profit to 3.13 billion pounds ($4.6 billion) and also said it expects to add 26,000 jobs. [ID:nLL127432]

Following are some other employers who have announced they are adding jobs despite the economic downturn:

RETAIL SECTOR:

* ASDA: Britain's second-biggest grocer and part of Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) said on Jan. 28 it was planning to create about 7,000 jobs in 2009 and was committed to recruiting up to 3,000 long-term unemployed people for existing vacancies.

* WAITROSE: British food retailer said on Jan. 15 it would add around 4,000 jobs by acquiring 13 stores and opening at least nine more this year.

* WM MORRISON SUPERMARKETS (MRW.L): Britain's fourth-biggest grocer said on Jan. 12 it would create over 5,000 jobs in 2009 as part of its store expansion programme.

* SAINSBURY (SBRY.L): Said on Jan. 8 it aimed to create 3,000-4,000 jobs this year.

* DOLLAR GENERAL CORP [DG.UL]: Operates more than 8,400 stores in 35 states in the U.S. and sells discounted merchandise from food to shampoo and clothing, said on April 1 it would create up to 4,000 jobs in 2009 to support its plans to open 450 new stores. * DEBENHAMS (DEB.L): The department store said on March 17 it would create 1,200 new jobs to the end of 2010 in a combination of full and part-time jobs in the eight new stores Debenhams plans to open over the next 18 months.

OTHER SECTORS:

* IBM (IBM.N): The world's largest technology services company, said on Jan. 14 it planned to open a new computer support centre in Iowa, creating up to 1,300 new jobs.

* MICROSOFT (MSFT.O): May create up to 3,000 jobs as it raises investment in research and development by $1 billion in 2009.

* AT&T (T.N): AT&T which said last December it was eliminating 12,000 jobs, announced on March 10 it would add nearly 3,000 jobs in growth areas in 2009. It would add 2,000 new jobs in its wireless, video and broadband business segments, and take on another 1,000 workers full-time in the U.S. for jobs that were previously handled by outside overseas contractors.

* MEARS GROUP (MERG.L): The British social housing and repairs provider said on March 10 it is to create 800 jobs in 2009.

* CENTRICA PLC (CNA.L): Said on Feb. 26 it would create 1,500 jobs and buy into a planned gas storage scheme. Centrica, which owns British Gas, said the new jobs would include engineering and "green" positions in Britain, including job- roles related to wind farms.

* TELEPERFORMANCE (ROCH.PA): French-owned global call centre operator will expand its operations in Northern Ireland and create 610 jobs, it said on Feb. 26.

* REVOZ: Slovenian car producer and subsidiary of French manufacturer Renault, said on Feb. 24 it will increase production and create new jobs in 2009 due to higher demand, mainly from Germany. It planned to increase production from 750 vehicles per day to about 880 vehicles and employ around 150 additional staff.