Tesco plans to create 20,000 UK jobs over two years

Tesco is to create 20,000 jobs in the UK, focusing on opportunities for young unemployed people, it has announced.

The firm said it would create the full- and part-time jobs over two years, invest in additional staff hours and training and improve stores.

Tesco is the country's largest private sector employer with more than 290,000 staff - a quarter under the age of 25.

The supermarket was recently targeted by Right to Work activists over the government's work experience scheme.

The pressure group occupied a Tesco branch near the Houses of Parliament last month, leading to the store's temporary closure, after a job advert for night-shift workers offered jobseeker's allowance plus expenses.

Tesco said the Jobcentre Plus advert had been a mistake caused by an IT error and had been amended.

It said the impression it was seeking to replace full-time workers had been mistaken.

The 20,000 jobs include full-time and part-time roles, including some apprenticeship placements.

In addition, a number of existing staff we will invited to do apprenticeship placements as part of their current roles, said a spokeswoman.

However, she could not say exactly how many people this was - or how many of the 20,000 jobs were full time or part time.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the news was a "massive confidence boost for the UK economy".

In unprecedented economic conditions like these, major businesses have a big responsibility to step forward, invest and create jobs.”

"Their commitment to creating jobs and opportunities for young people at what is a difficult time for the economy is fantastic news for the UK as a whole and for those people they will help into work," he said.

The supermarket giant recently had £5bn wiped off its stock market value in a single day after it revealed poor Christmas trading.

Tesco chief executive Richard Brasher said: "In unprecedented economic conditions like these, major businesses have a big responsibility to step forward, invest and create jobs.

"Today's announcement is a huge shot in the arm for the UK economy. At the core of this investment is our determination to deliver the best shopping experience for our customers, bar none.

"We will invest in more staff on the sales floor at busy times, greater expertise and help in the crucial areas of fresh food, and enhanced quality and service across our stores at all times."

Tesco reported a 2.3% decline in like-for-like sales excluding VAT and petrol in the six weeks to 7 January, falling below its own expectations.

More than a million 16-24 year olds are unemployed.

The government last week announced changes to its work experience scheme so that youngsters would not lose their benefits if they left placements early, following criticism of the sanctions attached to the programme.

Youngsters on the scheme are not paid wages but still receive their benefits.

Ministers say it has been a success, with around half those on work experience coming off benefits.

But the Right to Work campaign is continuing to hold protests against firms taking part, warning it will target restaurant chain McDonald's later this week.