Walmart said it would expand its workforce by 10,000 this year through the opening of 59 new, expanded or relocated Walmart and Sam’s Clubs facilities along with an expansion of e-commerce services.
Officials with the world’s largest retailer also said the company is planning $6.8 billion in capital investments in the United States. This includes construction and remodeling of stores, clubs and distribution centers, as well as the expansion of new services such as online grocery pickup.
Company officials estimated that 24,000 construction jobs would be supported through new store openings as well as remodels of existing facilities.
“Walmart is investing to better serve customers,” said Dan Bartlett, the company’s evp/corporate affairs. “With a presence in thousands of communities and a vast supplier network, we know we play an important role in supporting and creating American jobs.”
By July of this year, Walmart said it would open 160 new training academies around the country, bringing the total number of academies to 200. More than 225,000 associates will receive up to six weeks of specialty training and graduate from the academies in 2017.
Beyond expanding its workforce, Walmart will also provide $3 million in grants through the U.S. Manufacturing Innovation Fund to six leading universities working to advance sustainability and innovations in textile manufacturing, which has proven to be one of the most challenging industries to reshore to the U.S.
