General Electric Co (NYSE: GE) is hiring back workers as the U.S. economy picks up steam and is expanding its hiring in emerging markets, said Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt said.

During a presentation with the U.S. Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg in Washington, Immelt said that “In the last few months we have added back employees.”

Immelt said that international demand for the company’s health-care services and locomotives will drive new growth at the Fairfield, CT based company, the world’s largest producer of jet engines, medical imaging equipment and locomotives. He added that 50% of the new demand will come from outside the United States.

The Obama administration has commented that it wants to double U.S. exports over the next five years. Immelt said that goal is “as important as anything he has done.”

General Electric, which receives more than 50% of its revenue from overseas companies, believes that it can remain a key player in helping the United States remain a leading exporter, said Immelt earlier in the month in a letter to the company’s shareholders.

General Electric earned more than $18 billion in export-related sales in 2009 alone.

Immelt urged Congress to pass pending free trade agreements, saying that an effort in Congress to stall the trade deals sends the wrong message to economic partners overseas.