"For Walmart to be the best place to shop, we also need it to be the best place to work," said John Furner, president and CEO. "That idea is the North Star of our journey to build a better company for our associates. Whether we’re investing in compensation, learning and development, well-being, or resources for a simpler day at work, our commitment to associates is strong, and our goal is simple: helping them live better at every stage of their careers.
With the country facing a shortage of skilled trade workers, Walmart said it aims to create pathways for associates to fill these critical jobs in our stores and supply chain facilities. It's piloting a new Associate to Technician program with 100 associates in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that will help hourly store and supply chain associates move into facilities maintenance, refrigeration and HVAC, reliability and automation technician roles.
These jobs make between $19 and $45 an hour and offer opportunities to build a meaningful career while meeting a business need for the company. This program is part of its Walmart Academy, one of the largest training ecosystems in the country.
The company said its associates have also been asking for Walmart-paid education options that take less time to complete, so it now offers more than 50 skills certificates, which associates can finish in four months, on average, compared to years for a college degree.
"Our goal is to fast-track front-line associates into approximately 100,000 jobs that are higher-paying and in-demand for our business over the next three years," said Furner. "Certificates are targeted to those jobs, including salaried and hourly leadership roles in our stores, clubs and supply chain facilities — the backbone of our company — as well as roles like pharmacy technicians, opticians and software engineers in growing parts of our business."
The company said these investments are all part of its people-led, tech-powered commitment to Walmart associates. "We believe in them and their potential," said Furner. "We know that when they’re given the right tools, opportunities for growth and investments in their personal well-being, they can accomplish more than they imagined personally and professionally."
