This Times Observer file photo from Sept. 26, 2018 shows the exterior of the Lowe’s store in North Warren. The company has announced thousands of layoffs in its U.S. stores. Spokeswoman Jackie Pardini Hartzell said the number of employees impacted varies by store.

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. has announced the upcoming lay offs of thousands of employees at it’s US stores.

The announcement comes after the company has decided to outsource some of their duties to outside companies.

The company has declined to say exactly how many employees will be affected by the layoffs.

However, The Wall Street Journal reported that thousands of employees were told this week that thier jobs were eliminated, which was confirmed by the company.

Jackie Pardini Hartzell, spokeswoman for the Lowe’s, said Thursday that the company will not be disclosing how many are affected as the number of employees impacted varies by store. She also said the company has a strong track record of retaining associates in other roles within the company.

Hartzell said that the cuts are coming as the company moves to third-party assemblers and facility services to allow store associates more time to spend on the sales floor serving customers.

Previously, some store associates did assembly work such as constructing floor models and janitorial work. Hartzell said that employees in the eliminated positions will have the opportunity to apply for other open roles within Lowe’s.

Under its relatively new CEO Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s is trying to return its focus to its home improvement chain and streamline its business.

When Ellison took the reigns last year, he thinned executive positions at the company and began pairing away weaker selling items in its stores. The company announced last summer that it was closing the 99 Orchard Supply Hardware stores it owns in California, Florida and Oregon.

Lowe’s also announced it wants to bolster its business with professionals, something that has been Home Depot’s forte.