Walmart (NYSE:WMT) said Wednesday it plans to hire 20,000 employees to help keep merchandise moving ahead of the anticipated holiday shopping rush.
The big-box retailer, which is already the nation’s largest private employer, said the roles will be in supply chain. The jobs will be a mix of full-time and part-time, but will be permanent positions. They will range from order fillers to freight handlers at the company’s more than 250 distribution centers, fulfillment centers and transportation offices.
The average wage for a supply chain associate is $20.37 per hour, Walmart said in the corporate blog post. The company said it will hold special hiring events Sept. 8 and 9.
Walmart is staffing up as companies cope with fierce competition for workers and COVID-19 outbreaks that have halted manufacturing, slowed shipping and led to congested ports across the globe. These challenges have translated into delays, out-of-stock items and higher prices across the industry.
They have also raised questions about whether retailers will be prepared for the peak season of gift-giving — particularly as more of that shopping takes place online.
Walmart has not yet announced plans for holiday hiring. Last year, the retailer said it would hire 20,000 seasonal associates, the first time in five years it had announced significant holiday hiring.
The company has also ramped up supply chain investments, such as adding high-tech, automated systems to select stores that help pick and pack online grocery orders.
Walmart said in August it was seeing strong demand for back-to-school supplies, luggage, apparel and more, as consumers flocked back to stores.
WMT shares gave back 99 cents to $147.12