British do-it-yourself chain B&Q, owned by Kingfisher, is to create 4,000 jobs in Britain and Ireland. Next April it opens its first store in the south of Ireland at Liffey Valley in west Dublin. The retailer has decided to increase the number of warehouse stores it will open from 125 by 2004 to 175 by 2006. This confirms the resilience of consumer demand, which is supporting jobs growth in distribution and retailing as other parts of the economy come under pressure. In the UK a significant number of the new posts could be filled by older workers, whom the government is trying to draw back into employment.

The proportion of B&Q's workforce aged over 50 has risen from 15 per cent to 19 per cent in the past two years. B&Q says that the jobs should in turn create another 3,000 jobs across the manufacturing sector. Bill Whiting, chief executive, was undaunted by the prospect of weaker economic growth in Britain. "We're sensitive to what is happening around the world and we're aware of how it is affecting the economic situation.

But people will continue to improve and renovate their homes and, even if the housing market flattens, we believe that the adage "don't move, improve" will continue to boost our sales". Stores opening within the next year include outlets at Chester, Sutton, Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Caerphilly, Ballymena and Altrincham. The group has 310 stores employing 28,000 people.