In a bid to boost the economy, Walmart, the world's largest retailer and the biggest private employer in the U.S. with 1.4 million workers, said Tuesday that it will be hiring of as many as 100,000 veterans.

Starting on Memorial Day, Wal-Mart will hire any recently discharged military veteran who wants a job, a policy that Wal-Mart said could lead to the hiring of as many as 100,000 veterans, the company said.

The program will include jobs mostly in Walmart stores or in its Sam's Club locations. Some will be at its headquarters, based in Bentonville, Ark., or the company's distribution centers.

"Hiring a veteran can be one of the best decisions any of us can make,'' said Wal-Mart Chief Executive Officer Bill Simon."Veterans have a record of performance under pressure. They're quick leaders, and they're team players.''

Walmart faced widespread criticism during the holiday season as many disgruntled employees complained over low-wages and over recent reports of bribery in Mexico.

Simon also said the company will increase purchases of goods made within the United States by $50 billion over the next 10 years.

However, the breakdown of $50 billion over five years will only account for 2 percent of its total spending in the country. In the fiscal year that ended in January 2012, Walmart bought $238.8 billion in goods for its U.S. stores.