American retail giant Walmart plans to cut around 1,500 jobs as part of a restructuring effort to simplify its operations.
According to a Reuters report, these layoffs will impact Walmart’s global technology teams, e-commerce fulfillment staff at US stores, and employees in its advertising division, Walmart Connect.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report these job cuts.
A Bloomberg report adds that the layoffs will affect workers at Walmart’s headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, and at other US office locations, including the global technology team.
Reuters shared a memo saying, “To speed up our progress in delivering the future of retail experiences, we need to broaden our focus.”
As part of the restructuring, Walmart will eliminate some jobs but also create new positions.
How Many People Does Walmart Employ?
Walmart is the largest private employer in the US, with about 1.6 million employees in the country. Globally, Walmart employs roughly 2.1 million people.
It’s also America’s largest importer, with about 60% of its imports coming from China, mainly including clothes, electronics, and toys.
Previous Job Cuts in February
In February, Walmart also reduced some positions and closed its office in North Carolina to move employees to major hubs in California and Arkansas.
The latest layoffs have caused discussions on social media. Some critics claim that American workers are being replaced by cheaper foreign workers on H1B visas.
The H1B visa allows skilled foreign workers, especially in IT, to work in the US. Indians hold the largest share of H1B visas, but there have been concerns about misuse of the program.
