Wal-Mart Says It Created 125,000 Jobs

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it created 125,000 jobs last year and raised the average hourly pay for full-time workers 4.4% to $10.11 as it opened more urban stores.

Average wages in the Los Angeles metropolitan area were $10.29 an hour, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company said. Hourly wages in San Francisco, Denver, Boston and Atlanta exceeded $11 on average.

Wal-Mart issued the report after a year in which it was criticized by labor groups, politicians and religious leaders over what it paid its workers.

The job figure includes part-time and full-time positions, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman said.