Wal-Mart to increase global work force 36% in next five years

Bentonville, Ark. Wal-Mart Stores announced Thursday that it would up its headcount to 3 million in five years, a 36% work force increase the retailer said is based on projected global economic growth.

According to a report by Bloomberg, the retailer’s executive VP human resources Susan Chambers told attendees at a New Delhi conference Thursday that “the opportunity for growth is not just in India but global.” She said the personnel additions would “mostly” be outside the United States.

Wal-Mart’s current global employee count is 2.2 million. Overseas sales for the retailer by revenue have grown 91% in the last five years to $100.1 billion, almost triple the pace in the United States, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Wal-Mart is boosting overseas expansion to offset slowing growth in the United States, where same-store sales have declined for five consecutive quarters. Wal-Mart plans to enter Africa by acquiring Massmart Holdings Ltd. in a transaction worth about $4.6 billion.