Dollar General, Goodlettsville, Tenn., said it plans to create approximately 5,000 new jobs to support the planned opening of 600 stores over the next 12 months. The initiative comes on the heels of approximately 4,000 new jobs created by Dollar General in 2009, bringing the estimated total of jobs created to 9,000 over two years.

“We have exciting plans for 2010, which include expanding our work force in many suburban, rural and urban communities,” said Bob Ravener, Dollar General’s senior vice president and chief people officer. “We are aggressively recruiting job seekers who share a commitment to serving others and maintaining Dollar General’s leadership as a destination for value.”