TORONTO - Walmart Canada has confirmed that it laid off hundreds of employees across the country earlier this month in a move to rework its management structure.

The Arkansas-based retailer says it eliminated 750 jobs -- which is says represents less than one per cent of staff -- after testing a new management structure in select stores.

As part of the changes, Walmart Canada (NYSE:WMT) says 1,300 associates were promoted to more senior roles and about 200 store managers were added.

It says the objective is to make more Walmart sales associates available during peak shopping periods.

A spokesman for the company says the job cuts and reworked management will help provide better customer service and career opportunities for its staff.

Walmart has been aggressively growing across Canada in recent years, with an expansion plan that was valued at $750 million in 2012. This year, the company says it aims to create 7,500 new jobs, mainly through temporary construction and trade positions.