The National Retail Federation released the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay regarding Walmart’s announcement regarding the hiring of veterans:
“We have a lot of announcements made at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show, but announcement by Walmart President and CEO Bill Simon tops them all. It is nothing less than visionary for a great American company to make such a bold pledge to help our American heroes.”
“Walmart is challenging the industry to follow their lead, and I have every reason to believe that retailers – the industry responsible for one out of every four jobs – will respond accordingly.”
Shay’s comments came in response to a speech in which Simon announced that Walmart, beginning on Memorial Day, will offer a job to any honorably discharged veteran within his or her first 12 months off active duty.
As the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad. Retailers operate more than 3.6 million U.S. establishments that support one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans.
Contributing $2.5 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s Retail Means Jobs campaign emphasizes the economic importance of retail and encourages policymakers to support a Jobs, Innovation and Consumer Value Agenda aimed at boosting economic growth and job creation.