America’s largest private employer will hire nearly 50,000 workers by the end of April.
Retail giant Walmart has announced it will go on a hiring spree for this quarter, which comes during the post-holiday season when many retailers dial back on hiring.
Although many of these new hires will go towards filling in-store roles, the company is working to expand its health and wellness initiatives, as well as advertising.
Walmart, like many other companies, is looking to upgrade its hiring and human resources policies, prioritizing the overall health and upskilling opportunities for their workers. Donna Morris, chief people officer at Walmart, says this will help make Walmart a place where people can work long-term.
“People are reassessing their lives, and we want to be in consideration when people are determining where they want to go and where they want to stay,” said Morris.
Historically, retail jobs have required grueling work for low pay, and Walmart executives are working to remedy this reputation by making the company a place where employees can prosper.
In the past year ending in January, Walmart added around 100,000 employees to its global workforce, including 5,500 pharmacists and pharmacy managers in the US. This aims to expand the firm’s healthcare services due to growing demand caused by the pandemic.
The company also hired 4,500 truck drivers to address supply chain issues and growing consumer demand. Walmart’s technology sector also grew its team by 26%.
Although the National Retail Federation expects retail sales to steadily grow throughout the year, many retailers have struggled to retain and attract employees amidst the ongoing labor shortage.
Demands for better working conditions have led companies like Walmart, as well as Target, Costco, and others, to boost wages and introduce new programs that enhance the employee experience.
For Walmart in particular, the company announced that it would cover tuition and books at certain colleges, which has now been used by 44% of employees. The firm also raised its minimum wage across the board, with its average wage now at $16.40.
In addition to expanding employee perks, Walmart has also sped up the hiring process, allowing some applicants to know whether they are hired within 24 hours.
