( NewsNation) — Walmart, America’s largest private employer, is hitting pause on hiring employees who require H-1B visas, a spokesperson confirmed to multiple news outlets. The H-1B program allows employers to hire highly skilled non-U.S. citizens, who often fill positions in tech, finance and engineering fields.

Retailers and corporations such as Target, Walmart and Amazon are hiring seasonal staff ahead of the holidays.

Walmart’s recent decision to halt hiring for corporate roles that require H-1B visas marks a significant shift for the retail giant, one that could have broader implications for the US labour market.