By Joe Metzger, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Operations, Walmart U.S. and Karisa Sprague, Senior Vice President, People, Supply Chain, Walmart U.S.

As our business continues evolving to meet the needs of today’s customers, having a robust supply chain is more important than ever. That’s why we’re excited to announce that our team is growing.

We released FY22 Q2 earnings last week, and they revealed just how much Walmart has grown over the past year — we had another strong quarter. Innovation across all areas of the business had a huge impact on our growth, and earlier this year, we shared plans to roll out high-tech automation systems to our facilities in addition to high-tech grocery distribution centers.

In order to support that growth, we’re planning to hire 20,000 new associates across more than 250 Walmart and Sam’s Club distribution centers (DCs), fulfillment centers (FCs) and transportation offices. Next week we’re holding special hiring events on Sept. 8 - 9 to attract the best and brightest candidates in all our supply chain locations. We’ll be filling a wide range of roles, including order fillers, freight handlers, lift drivers, technicians and management positions. These positions will be permanent roles and will be offered in both full-and part-time capacities.

We know that offering competitive pay is essential in order to build a network for the future. The average wage for supply chain associates is $20.37 per hour.

At Walmart, what starts as a job has the potential to lead to a limitless and rewarding career. Whether you’re new to the workforce or you’re looking for a fresh start, this is the place to continue your professional journey. After all, the majority of our managers started their careers in roles such as an order filler, and now have responsibility for leading a team of associates to ensure goods are received and shipped to stores and customers with the highest quality and service levels.

“It means the world when you have a caring group of people to work with, who truly care. Your job becomes more than just getting a paycheck – it becomes a career. And, there’s opportunity here to learn from the ground up and add to the culture by putting your own special twist on being a part of a team.”

- Angie Baecke, General Manager of FC 7520 in Plainfield, Indiana

We know that financial stability, health benefits, family support and career development opportunities are all critical factors to weigh when considering a job, and we aim not to just meet but exceed our associates’ expectations on each of these fronts. Every item on our store shelves and in our online inventory is there because of the combined efforts of our associates working in more than 250 supply chain facilities across the country.

To help associates gain the experiences and skills needed for success in the jobs of today and tomorrow, Walmart has invested in associate development and growth opportunities, including opening six new Walmart Academies to support the supply chain business. Walmart Academies immerse associates in a training program that allows them to receive both classroom and DC/FC floor training in specialized supply chain skills and soft skills like leadership, communications and change management. In FY21, we trained approximately 5,900 associates via the Walmart U.S. Supply Chain Academy, including in-person and virtual trainings.

In addition to job-focused training at Walmart Academies, we also encourage associates to pursue further education with Live Better U. This year, Walmart announced that it would pay 100% of the cost of tuition and books for Live Better U – allowing Supply Chain associates to achieve bachelor’s degrees debt-free.

And finally, we prioritize the health and wellness of our associates and their families. Medical coverage starts at $30.50 per pay period – approximately one-third less than the average premium employees pay at other companies. That’s in addition to maternity and paternal benefits, emotional well-being benefits, healthcare tailored to the LBGTQ+ community and veteran and military spouse support. We are also offering our field-based associates – including supply chain – a $150 cash bonus for getting the COVID-19 vaccination. New associates who get vaccinated before October 4, or who were already vaccinated prior to their hire date, are eligible for the bonus.

For our supply chain to continue expanding, innovating and improving our customer service, we need a strong, dynamic team leading it. We’re excited to meet the new associates who are going to join our team.

Visit careers.walmart.com for more information.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210831006072/en/