AT&T hiring 70 in Springfield

Dallas-based AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is planning to hire over 70 employees in Springfield.

The effort is part of a 240-job hiring spurt for the company across Missouri, according to a news release.

Locally, the company is hiring nearly 60 for its downtown Springfield call center, 600 E. St. Louis St., and some 10 retail employees for its stores in the area.

The company has scheduled a 10 a.m.-3 p.m. hiring fair on April 12 at the call center.

AT&T announced last week it would hire more than 3,000 retail employees across the U.S., part of a plan to meet increased customer demand, according to the release.

In Missouri, AT&T employed about 10,000 people as of the fourth quarter. Its payroll in the state was roughly $890 million in 2012. The company as a whole employed some 243,360 worldwide as of Dec. 31, according to ATT.com.