Wal-Mart says it will create 22,000 jobs in 2009

The AP reports:

As Wal-Mart Stores Inc. opens about 150 new or expanded stores in the U.S. in 2009, the company expects to hire about 22,000 people for new positions.

Those positions include plenty of cashiers and stock clerks, but the world's largest retailer will also be adding store managers, pharmacists and personnel workers.

Wal-Mart is holding its annual shareholders meeting on Friday, and employees from its stores around the world are spending the week in Bentonville at company headquarters.

Wal-Mart, still the target of criticism from union-backed groups for its pay and benefits, has improved its health insurance coverage and opened it to full- and part-time employees. The company says 94 percent of its employees have health coverage, either through Wal-Mart or another family member.

Some places want jobs. Then there's the pro- unemployment places like Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and NYC that want to make Wal-Marts very difficult to open. Some places want consumers goods at low prices and jobs. Some places want higher prices and high unemployment.