During the annual Veterans Day celebration at its home office Monday, Walmart announced it has hired more than 243,000 veterans nationwide since launching the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in 2013. The company also reported more than 39,000 veteran associates have earned promotions since joining the Walmart and Sam's Club teams.
In Tennessee, Walmart has hired more than 6,900 veterans since the commitment was made six years ago.
On Memorial Day 2013, Walmart introduced the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment with an initial goal of hiring 100,000 veterans. Two years later, the company expanded the original projection with the goal of hiring 250,000 veterans by the end of 2020 and remains ahead of schedule to meet that goal.
"It's our honor to support veterans and military families," said Retired Brig. Gen. Gary Profit, Walmart senior director of Military Programs. "These men and women are assets to our workforce, bringing the type of experience and work ethic we value here at Walmart."
Walmart recognized veterans, their spouses and families across the country with dozens of in-store ceremonies and events Monday. Nationally, Walmart associates and local stores shared Facebook "thank-you" messages to veterans and their families.
A year ago on Veterans Day, Walmart announced an additional focus related to its commitment to veterans and their families with the Military Spouse Career Connection, giving a hiring preference to military spouses.
The first military spouse associates were officially hired within weeks of the company announcement and sine then Walmart has hired more than 14,000 nationally.
"Providing opportunities for military service members has been among our company's priorities for years," said Walmart U.S. CEO John Furner. "When we saw that unemployment among military spouses was close to 25 percent, we knew we had to act."