Wal-Mart Creates Jobs in Texas

The retail industry has been hit particularly hard by the recession. With unemployment on the rise and people being more careful with their money, the sector has seen its profits decline. Because of this, these businesses simply can’t support as many jobs as they did before the national economy began to struggle.

Despite this, some retailers have managed to increase their profits. Since many people are looking to save money any way they can, stores like Wal-Mart have seen a rise in business. Because of this, they can afford to build new stores. As a result, the retail giant is now creating 300 new jobs in Texas.

According to the San Antonio Business Journal, Wal-mart is opening a new supercenter in Penitas, which is located in South Texas and has a population of approximately 3,500 people. In an area of this size, 3000 new positions can make a big difference.

State Governor Rick Perry, who was present at the store’s opening, stated that he feels that this is proof that Texas’ economy continues to be strong, despite the struggles many other areas experience.

“Employers are looking at Texas and realizing that we’ve not only kept a lid on the problems that are troubling other states, but also worked to foster an environment that encourages people to pursue their dreams, build businesses and create jobs,” the newspaper quoted Perry as saying.

According to the Business Journal, the new Supercenter is expected to generate somewhere between $300,000 to $400,000 for the area in sales tax revenue. Of this, one-half percent will be put towards the Penitas Crime Control and Prevention District. This funds law enforcement training, crime prevention programs and new equipment.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Texas’ unemployment rate is currently 7.1 percent, which is significantly lower than the national average of 9.4 percent. During May this figure climbed 0.5 percent from April’s 6.6 percent to where it now stands. Despite the fact the jobless rate remains relatively low, it is still up a good bit from May of 2008’s 4.7 percent.

According to the Bureau there were 843,500 people in Texas that could not find jobs in May. This figure does not include those that have exhausted their benefits or have become discouraged and stop looking for work altogether.