Imagine having your hands in so many industries that it’spossible to point to specific first-hand references when speakingof the nation’s economic condition—right down to the sale ofmachinery parts.

So it goes with Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.While interviewed on CNBC’s“Squawk Box,” Buffett says he first noticed an economicslowdown when Berkshire’s business of “little tiny punching toolsor cutting tools” (called ISCAR Metalworking) fell off, signaling adecline in manufacturing.

Buffett’s says the global economy has “some slowing going on,"but "if you're out hustling, you can find business."

The U.S., he says, is “certainly better than it is inEurope.”

“We’re still inching ahead, but it’s inching,” Buffett adds."The U.S. gets a little bit better every day."

Buffett spoke to CNBC from Columbus, Ohio at the GE CapitalMiddle-Market Summit at Ohio State University. He saysBerkshire has dozens of middle-market companies, and speakingspecifically about job growth in this sector, Buffett saysBerkshire-owned companies will likely add 8,000 jobs organicallythis year and another 10,000 to 15,000 via acquisitions.

The billionaire expects his prized auto insurer Geico to be oneof those companies because they need more people to handle theadditional policies he says the insurer is writing.

Growth in housing, albeit small, has also resulted in more jobs,says Buffett.

“Our Clayton Homes (the largest maker of manufacturedhousing in the U.S.) is going to produce something like 15 percentmore homes this year, and that takes more people,” he says, addingthat his furniture, carpet and brick businesses are also doingwell.

“You hire people when you start seeing demand,” Buffett says.“And you’re seeing more demand.”