Wal-Mart to hire 22,000 this year

BENTONVILLE, Ark., June 4 (UPI) -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it would add 22,000 workers to its payroll this year, as it aims to increase its U.S. retail outlets by up to 157 stores.

"During this difficult economic time, we're proud to be able to create quality jobs for thousands of Americans this year," Vice Chairman of Wal-Mart U.S. Eduardo Castro-Wright said in a statement.

In its annual report, Wal-Mart said it added 33,000 jobs in 2008, CNNMoney.com reported Thursday.

The giant discount retailer said it would hire at least 1,000 new workers in Arizona, California, New Jersey, Michigan, Utah, South Carolina, Florida and Virginia

The world's largest retail company has a current workforce in the United States of 1.45 million. Globally, Wal-Mart has more than 2 million on its payroll, CNNMoney.com said.