A rumor claiming that 95% of Walmart's IT department employees are Indian is false. The rumor emerged following layoffs in 2025, but reports indicated a much lower percentage of the IT workforce was of Indian origin, and the company has multiple tech locations worldwide.
Evidence disproving the rumor
- 40% figure widely reported: A viral social media post falsely claimed it was "no coincidence" that over 40% of Walmart's IT department was made up of H-1B visa holders from India, in connection with the 2025 layoffs. While this percentage is significantly lower than 95%, critics noted that there was no hard evidence to support even the 40% figure.
- Widespread layoffs: Walmart's 2025 job cuts were part of a wider restructuring in the company's Global Tech division, impacting about 1,500 employees. The company stated the layoffs were meant to reduce costs and improve decision-making.
- Global tech operations: Walmart has major global tech operations, including a large base in India. In August 2025, Walmart Global Tech India had approximately 11,000 employees. Given that the company has a global tech workforce, a single department or country does not represent the entire IT division.
- Unfair scapegoating: Some critics pointed out that blaming Indian H-1B workers for the layoffs was unfair, as large companies like Walmart and others in the tech industry have been cutting jobs due to changing business needs and adapting to new technologies, such as AI.
Context for Indian talent in US tech
It is important to note that Indian-born individuals are highly represented in the US tech sector, especially in Silicon Valley. A 2025 report found that foreign workers from India account for 23% of the tech workers with a bachelor's degree or higher in Silicon Valley. However, these broader industry trends do not support the specific and exaggerated claim about Walmart's workforce.
