MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. – It is one of southeast Wisconsin‘s top employers. Now, Kohl’s is cutting 10% of its corporate office jobs. 

Kohl’s slashes office jobs

What we know:

Kohl’s is headquartered in Menomonee Falls. On Tuesday, Jan. 28, a spokesperson for the company said Kohl’s is cutting roughly 10% of its corporate office jobs. of that 10%, more than half are from open positions that the company will not fill.

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The news from Kohl’s comes after officials announced 27 underperforming stores would close by April. None of those are in Wisconsin. However, the retail giant has had eleven consecutive quarters of sales declines. 

MSOE professor weighs in

What they’re saying:

“We sure got used to shopping online,” said MSOE Associate Professor Michael Payne. 

Payne teaches his students the ins and outs of business. This week’s conversation is focused on Kohl’s. 

“It’s a good company, I think they’ve run it very well.  We’re just in an economic period and really a consumer period where the behavior has not allowed for growth and have to make these cuts,” Payne said. 

Shift for retail

Local perspective:

The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) lists Kohl’s as a major employer – with more than 6,000 local employees. 

Payne believes some of those workers might look for jobs out of Wisconsin. 

“We all want Milwaukee and Wisconsin to thrive from an economic standpoint and have jobs available – it will be pinched. They will look for jobs – there’s not a lot of retail jobs,” Payne said. 

Payne said retail has shifted to online. 

“Sears recently, K-mart, Macy’s. And I think the retail environment, especially bricks and mortar and malls have become less relevant in the consumer patterns of behavior and shopping,” Payne said. 

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Despite the cuts, Payne said he thinks Kohl’s will survive.

In a statement, Kohl’s said the cuts aim to “support Kohl’s ongoing actions to increase efficiencies and improve profitability for the long-term health and benefit of the business.”