Wal-Mart’s Asda to Create 7,000 Jobs Specifically for Unemployed

Asda, Wal-Mart’s UK market chain, plans to create 7,000 jobs this year as it adds more store space, bulks up its Internet operations and expands sales beyond foodstuffs.

Asda will work with government and private recruiters to find full and part-time staff who’ve been jobless for more than six months. The Leeds, England-based discount retailer will expand its existing stores, as well as open nine supermarkets and five “Asda Living” outlets. The online division will hire 2,000 people.

Asda, the UK’s second-largest grocery chain, reported sales growth for the end of last year that surpassed that of larger rival Tesco.

“We will create 7,000 new jobs at a time when many companies are having to lay people off,” said CEO Andy Bond.

Rival Sainsbury will hire up to 4,000 new staff this year and increase store space by 4%. Another market chain, Morrison, plans to hire 5,000 people this year and train more staff to become butchers, bakers and candlestick makers fishmongers.