Wal-Mart Stores to expand jobs for 70K work..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

NEW YORK • Wal-Mart Stores is hiring 55,000 seasonal workers and is elevating 70,000 more to part- or full-time positions as the holiday season ramps up.

The world's largest retailer says 35,000 temporary workers will become part-time and 35,000 part-time workers will gain full-time jobs.

The shift means that Wal-Mart will be offering more of its workers benefits. That's significant because Wal-Mart has been a target of attacks by labor groups for what they say are skimpy wages and benefits.

The holidays are a crucial time for retailers because they can make up to 40 percent of annual revenue during the period.

Last season, the world's largest retailer hired 50,000 workers and said it would offer more hours in general to its existing employees.

Wal-Mart Stores to expand jobs for 70K workers