Walmart is the largest private employer in the United States, with approximately 1.6 million employees.
WASHINGTON — The largest U.S. retailer is cutting about 1,000 jobs in an effort to streamline operations, according to multiple media reports.
business insider, CNBC Walmart announced the changes to employees in a memo on Tuesday, Reuters reported on Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal first reported news of the layoffs.
According to Business Insider, Walmart executives Suresh Kumar and Daniel Danker said in the memo: “We have made some changes to simplify how work is organized, provide clearer ownership, and better align roles with the jobs and skills we will need in the future.”
Walmart has approximately 2.1 million employees worldwide, according to Latest figures in annual report. It is the largest private employer in the United States, with approximately 1.6 million employees.
“These changes also involve difficult decisions. Some jobs have been consolidated and some roles eliminated, and we know this has a real impact on people and teams,” the memo continued. “We are providing care to those impacted, including helping them explore other opportunities within Walmart where possible.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, most of the affected employees have been asked to relocate to Walmart’s offices in Bentonville, Arkansas, or Northern California.
The layoffs come as Walmart announced plans to renovate more than 650 supercenters and neighborhood markets this year.
In a press release dated April 16, Walmart Customers say The planned renovations are expected to include wider aisles and updated store layouts, expanded pickup and delivery services, updated vision centers and pharmacies, and new digital touchpoints.
Select neighborhood markets are already undergoing a four-week rapid transformation program designed to deliver results faster. For Neighborhood Market, renovations include expanding deli and hot bar selections, as well as upgrading the area used to fulfill online grocery orders.
Walmart said the investment is designed to create more jobs, help strengthen the local economy and make shopping more convenient, according to a news release.
Andrew Weil and Emma Hutchinson contributed to this report.
