Home improvement giant kicks off 2019 with a hiring spree
Lowe’s Companies is bolstering its workforce in a big way.
The home improvement giant plans to hire approximately 65,000 associates this year. Most will be tasked with improving customer service and product availability.
Starting mid-January, Lowe’s will begin hiring more than 50,000 seasonal positions to support its spring rush across certain locations. Additionally, the company plans to add 10,000 permanent associates across its merchandising service team (MST). This division is focused on best-in-class inventory management, including the execution of critical tasks such as general bay service and resets. These associates will be tasked with improving in-stock availability, a move that will allow store-level associates to spend more time serving customers instead of spending time stocking merchandise.
In addition to hiring approximately 6,000 full-time assistant store manager and department supervisor roles, Lowe’s also plans to fill more than 2,000 technology roles, including software engineers, data scientists and other digital positions. IT associates will build and enhance core technology capabilities and deliver on the company’s omnichannel strategy. The first 500 of these technology positions will be posted and filled throughout 2019.
Coinciding with its hiring efforts, Lowe’s is reducing some in-store support functions, including discontinuing its Project Specialist Interiors program. However, the company will continue to provide interior installations, such as cabinets, countertops and flooring, as well as its Project Specialist Exteriors program designed to support customers’ exterior projects such as roofing, siding, fencing and windows.
"We are sharpening our focus on retail fundamentals and simplifying our business," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "We are investing in key leadership positions across our stores to enhance customer service while also creating jobs that will improve the availability of our most popular products, transform our technology infrastructure, and provide more access for customers to the home improvement expertise of our store associates."
Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s operates more than 2,240 stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Late last year, Lowe’s revealed that its new strategy under Ellison including exiting operations in Mexico.
The home improvement giant plans to hire approximately 65,000 associates this year. Most will be tasked with improving customer service and product availability.
Starting mid-January, Lowe’s will begin hiring more than 50,000 seasonal positions to support its spring rush across certain locations. Additionally, the company plans to add 10,000 permanent associates across its merchandising service team (MST). This division is focused on best-in-class inventory management, including the execution of critical tasks such as general bay service and resets. These associates will be tasked with improving in-stock availability, a move that will allow store-level associates to spend more time serving customers instead of spending time stocking merchandise.
In addition to hiring approximately 6,000 full-time assistant store manager and department supervisor roles, Lowe’s also plans to fill more than 2,000 technology roles, including software engineers, data scientists and other digital positions. IT associates will build and enhance core technology capabilities and deliver on the company’s omnichannel strategy. The first 500 of these technology positions will be posted and filled throughout 2019.
Coinciding with its hiring efforts, Lowe’s is reducing some in-store support functions, including discontinuing its Project Specialist Interiors program. However, the company will continue to provide interior installations, such as cabinets, countertops and flooring, as well as its Project Specialist Exteriors program designed to support customers’ exterior projects such as roofing, siding, fencing and windows.
"We are sharpening our focus on retail fundamentals and simplifying our business," said Marvin R. Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "We are investing in key leadership positions across our stores to enhance customer service while also creating jobs that will improve the availability of our most popular products, transform our technology infrastructure, and provide more access for customers to the home improvement expertise of our store associates."
Based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe’s operates more than 2,240 stores in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Late last year, Lowe’s revealed that its new strategy under Ellison including exiting operations in Mexico.