In Cleveland, 6,000 apply for 300 Wal-Mart jobs

[RamboLiberal]

Source: USA Today

Cleveland's first Wal-Mart is about to open, and with it comes 300 jobs in a metro area that is struggling economically. The result, according to the Plain Dealer: 6,000 people applied, or 20 applicants for every one job.

"We had to recount (the applications) three times," Mia Masten, Wal-Mart's director of corporate affairs in its Midwest division, told the newspaper.

Most of the jobs are lower-paying, lower-skills positions, and the demand for those posts disturbs some people.

"That's Depression-era kind of imagery," Amy Hanauer, executive director of Policy Matters Ohio, told the Plain Dealer. "You can't have an economy that works that way. It speaks to the need to generate a different kind of employment in Cleveland."



Read more: http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/11/in-cleveland-60.html#uslPageReturn