Wal-Mart To Hire 100,000 Veterans, Boost Domestic Spending $50 Billion
by January 15, 2013 8:37 am 113 views
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, said it plans to hire more than 100,000 veterans in the United States over the next five years, a move supported by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Most of the veterans will be placed in the company's stores and clubs, and some will be employed in distribution centers.
The retailer will start issuing job offers to veterans during Memorial Day in May. The offers will be given to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty.
Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon is reportedly planning to give more details in his speech today (Jan. 15) at the National Retail Federation conference in New York.
According to a Wal-Mart statement, the retailer spoke with the White House about the hiring commitment and First Lady Michelle Obama's team had expressed an interest in working with Wal-Mart on this issue.
Walmart U.S. is largest private employer in the United States, with about 1.3 million employees.
UPDATE: Wal-Mart said its U.S. operations will also spend an additional $50 billion on domestic sourcing during the next 10 years.
“The company will grow U.S. manufacturing on two fronts: by increasing what it already buys here – in categories like sporting goods, apparel basics, storage products, games, and paper products, and by helping to onshore U.S. production in high potential areas like textiles, furniture and higher-end appliances,” the company said in a statement.
“At the heart of our national political conversation today is one issue: creating jobs to grow the economy,” said Walmart U.S. CEO Bill Simon. “We are meeting with our suppliers on domestic manufacturing and are making a strong commitment to move this forward.”
Walmart is creating a senior team within the company to lead the domestic effort and it will sign longer-term purchase agreements to give suppliers more certainty.
“We can do so much more by working in partnership – as an industry and with governments,” said Simon. “I've talked with a number of governors, including the incoming chair of the National Governors Association, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, about how governors and retailers and manufacturers can drive this issue together. Governors from both sides of the aisle are enthusiastic about getting their constituents back to work.”
This summer, Walmart will help convene a manufacturing summit for stakeholders to work together and help accelerate these changes.