US retail giant Walmart slashes over 1,000 tech roles

Walmart is set to eliminate around 1,500 corporate roles as part of a broader restructuring aimed at streamlining its operations and accelerating decision-making, according to an internal memo reviewed by multiple media outlets.

The affected positions are primarily within the company’s global technology division, e-commerce fulfilment teams, and its advertising unit, Walmart Connect. The move will not impact in-store retail staff.

“In Global Tech, we are evolving teams across the organisation, with a focus on simplifying our structure to facilitate speed and innovation,” stated the memo sent to employees by Suresh Kumar, global chief technology officer and chief development officer, and John Furner, president and chief executive officer of Walmart U.S.

The retailer said it will simultaneously eliminate some roles while opening new ones. “The world of technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and reshaping our structure allows us to accelerate how we deliver and adapt to the changing environment around us,” the memo read.

The job cuts are part of a broader effort by Walmart to remove organisational complexity and sharpen its strategic focus. “To accelerate our progress delivering the experiences that will define the future of retail, we must sharpen our focus,” the internal communication added.

Walmart, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, employs around 1.6 million people in the United States and approximately 2.1 million globally. It is also the largest U.S. importer, sourcing roughly 60 per cent of its imports from China, including electronics, clothing and toys.

This restructuring follows a February decision by Walmart to close its office in North Carolina and relocate staff to its primary hubs in California and Arkansas. The company had also announced plans to raise prices on certain goods in response to tariffs, compounding the pressure on its supply chain.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the planned layoffs, which were later confirmed by Walmart sources speaking to Reuters and CBS News.

The company recently reported quarterly earnings of $4.4 billion, a decline from $5.1 billion in the same period last year.