Walmart Releases Annual Culture, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report

Walmart has released its annual Culture, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Report, giving the company some insight into its growth in the past two years, as well as areas for continued growth.

The company said in the report that it has seen "strong momentum building over the last two years." According to the report, Walmart has more diverse and female leaders: Women represented 33.8% of U.S. officers in fiscal 2022 (as of Jan. 31, 2022), up from 31.8% in fiscal 2020; people of color represented 26.6% of U.S. officers in fiscal 2022 vs. 24.88% in 2020; and there was an increase of African American and Black officers to 9.6% in fiscal 2022 vs. 3.15% in 2020.

Additionally, almost half of Walmart’s U.S. associates are people of color, representing 49.33% of U.S. hourly associates in fiscal 2022, an increase of 3.38% since fiscal 2020, the retailer said. Also, 38.51% of U.S. management associates in fiscal 2022 were people of color, up from 35.92% in 2020.

The report also showed that Walmart associates are becoming increasingly intersectional: The percentage of U.S. associates who identify as two or more races grew to 3.04% in fiscal 2022 vs. 2.63% in fiscal 2020.

The report also included data regarding the gender and ethnicity of new hires in the U.S. workforce. Of new hires, 51.01% are women, 29.67% are women of color and 56.42% are people of color. Of total management promotions in the U.S., 45.05% are women and 39.97% are people of color.

“Every day, we welcome shoppers of diverse backgrounds and walks of life into our stores and clubs. Not only do we want shoppers to feel safe and comfortable shopping with us, but we also want them to see their local Walmart as a place where they belong, and as a place that belongs to them,” William White, chief marketing officer for Walmart U.S., said in the report.

The report also indicated that Walmart’s Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) have played a role in creating an inclusive environment within the company. Introduced nearly 20 years ago, the report said “associate leaders from each of the nine ARGs have helped evolve and grow these groups to create lasting business impact.” ARG leaders do this “by investing efforts beyond the scope of their job responsibilities to make a positive difference in their company and community.”

The ARGs—APAN, or Asian Pacific Associates Network; BAARG, or Black & African American Resource Group; FAVOR Associate Resource Group; inABLE Associate Resource Group; LatinX Network Associate Resource Group; PRIDE Associate Resource Group; Tribal Voices Indigenous Associate Resource Group; SERVES Associate Resource Group; and WRC, or Women’s Resource Community—“help provide strategic direction, mentorship, sponsorship and other counsel and support to their respective groups.”  

“The power of passion, teamwork and collaboration comes alive when leading an ARG. It’s fun, rewarding and doesn’t feel like work when associates say they've been helped to feel seen, heard and valued for who they are—that they belong,” said Pauline Mohler, senior director of finance for Sam’s Club, in the report.

Walmart has about 10,500 stores and clubs under 46 banners in 24 countries, and employs nearly 1.6 million associates in the U.S.