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Supermarket chain Asda has announced plans to create 7,000 new full and part time jobs throughout 2009. The company, owned by US firm Wal-Mart, is one of many supermarkets to give the job market a welcome boost in recent weeks. As we reported last month, Sainsbury’s expect to create 5,000 new jobs this year, Tesco has said it will create up to 10,000 new positions, Waitrose expects to add 4,000 and Morrisons a further 5,000.
Around half of the new Asda jobs will be created with the opening of 14 new supermarkets - along with extending 15 other already existing stores. Another two thousand vacancies will come from the home shopping section of the business and a further one thousand opportunities will come from natural growth of the business.
Asda are hoping to recruit just under half of the new staff from people who have been unemployed for an extended period of time. It will work with government agency Remploy in order to give about 3,000 of the jobs to unemployed disabled people.
Supermarkets in general have recently been reporting rising sales in spite of the recession – and in marked contrast to most non-food retailers at present - so they can afford to increase the numbers of both their full and part time jobs.
The chief executive of Asda, Andy Bond, said that "this year we will create 7,000 new jobs at a time when many companies are having to lay people off." Bond added that Asda’s “track record of recruiting and retaining people is second to none."
The Work & Pensions Secretary, James Purnell, also praised the job creation: "At a time when we are facing global economic challenges, people need as much support as possible to help them get into jobs. Local Employment Partnership's such as Asda have been a real success."
This all suggests that those of you looking for part time jobs or temporary work should ensure that all of your local supermarkets have your CVs and application forms on their desks so you can have some spare cash in your pockets.
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