Wal-Mart plans to cut between 700 and 800 jobs at its headquarters in Arkansas as the recession hits the firm’s US sales.
Spokesman David Tovar said the job reductions come as the retailer – which owns Asda in the UK – plans to open fewer stores in 2009.
Marketing and support administration jobs are likely to be affected by the changes but retail jobs will not be hit, Tovar said.
He commented: “It’s an ongoing process for us to look at our staffing needs and align them with our business plan.”
Staff members are set to be told in the next few weeks whether their roles will be made redundant.
However, the Wall Street Journal reports that Wal-Mart is planning to expand its operations in Chicago.
According to the news source the retailer will look to open six stores in the city over the coming years.
Wal-Mart posted disappointing sales over the Christmas period and blamed the recession for the trend.
