Walmart Needs No Additional Holiday Employees

Walmart has indicated it has sufficient staff for the holiday season, suggesting it is not planning the typical seasonal hiring sprees like previous years. Maren Dollwet Wagonner, senior vice-president of people, commented on LinkedIn that the company has been hiring throughout the year to ensure readiness for the holiday rush. Stores requiring additional labor will offer workers extra hours and hire more workers as needed. Walmart has joined other retailers in expressing caution regarding the holiday shopping season, citing factors such as high food costs, dwindling savings, and increasing interest rates that may deter consumers from making significant purchases. Rising labor costs are also a concern. However, seasonal hiring by US retailers is expected to drop to 2008 levels, while holiday sales are set to grow at their slowest rate in five years.