In a rare boost to Britain's floundering employment market, Asda and BSkyB have announced the creation of 8,000 new jobs.
Asda, owned by supermarket giant WalMart, says it will create 7,000 jobs this year, while Sky owner BSkyB said 1,000 posts would be made to help with its new HD television service.
Earlier this week Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus announced the loss of 2,500 jobs in Britain in one of the worst days for the UK economy since it officially went into recession, with dire warnings that unemployment could hit three million before the end of 2009.
Asda said almost half of its new 7,000 jobs, to be filled mainly at 14 new stores, would go to people unable to find a job for more than six months.
"This year we will create 7,000 new jobs at a time when many companies are having to lay people off," said Asda chief executive Andy Bond.
"We will also be helping 3,000 long-term unemployed get back into work by specifically targeting them for existing vacancies in our business."
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