Tech History: How Tech & Expansion Fueled Walmart’s Employee Boom

Walmart's rise from a single store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962 to a global retail giant with over 2 million employees is a testament to how strategic milestones and tech-driven expansions can spark massive workforce growth.

The first major leap came in the 1980s with the launch of Sam’s Club, marking Walmart’s move into wholesale. Shortly after, international expansion began in the early 1990s, bringing a surge in new markets—and new hires.

Walmart’s adoption of technology to support logistics and operations helped it scale fast, but digital transformation truly accelerated with the acquisition of Jet.com in 2016. This was a turning point in Walmart’s e-commerce strategy, adding critical tech talent and infrastructure.

Later, the expansion of online grocery delivery services brought another wave of hiring, as demand for e-commerce and last-mile delivery exploded. Walmart adapted quickly, growing its tech backbone while onboarding thousands of workers to support both digital and physical operations.

Each key milestone—whether a store launch, global expansion, or tech acquisition—triggered a new phase in Walmart’s workforce evolution, shaping it into the employer powerhouse we see today.