Preparing for the holiday sales rush, Amazon (pictured 2019) announced on Tuesday that it plans to recruit a workforce of 250,000 in order to handle the expected increase in seasonal volume.
File Photo by Friedemann Vogel/EPA-EFE
Sept. 19 (UPI) — In anticipation of the holiday season, Amazon declared on Tuesday its intention to employ 250,000 individuals.
This year’s hiring announcement represents an increase of 100,000 from last year’s winter holidays.
The positions Amazon is seeking to fill include full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles in its fulfillment centers and transportation departments across the United States.
Over the past five years, Amazon has successfully added over 800,000 jobs of this nature, and it is now investing $1.3 billion in wage increases for customer fulfillment and transportation roles. Consequently, the average pay rate for these positions will exceed $20.50 per hour.
“The holiday season is always a special time at Amazon, and we’re excited to expand our workforce by an additional 250,000 people this year to meet customer demands across the country,” stated John Felton, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations. He added, “Whether an individual is seeking a short-term means of earning extra income or aiming to embark upon a fulfilling and rewarding career at Amazon, there’s an available role for everyone.”
Felton also highlighted how seasonal jobs could potentially evolve into prosperous long-term career options.
“A fulfillment or transportation employee who joins us today will experience a 13% salary increase over the next three years, alongside additional annual wage investments. Moreover, they will have access to benefits such as prepaid college tuition and healthcare coverage from day one.”
Amazon officials revealed that select locations will offer signing bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $3,000, with hourly wages ranging from $17 to $28 depending on the job type and geographic location within the United States.
In 2023 alone, Amazon has established more than 50 new fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and same-day delivery sites within the country.
Last year, the company announced its intent to employ 150,000 individuals in the United States to ensure smooth operations during the holiday rush.
According to e-commerce company Salesforce, global online holiday shopping for this year is projected to remain stagnant compared to the previous year, reaching an estimated value of $1.19 trillion. On the other hand, professional services firm Deloitte forecasts a 3.5% to 4.6% increase in overall retail sales this year based on its annual holiday sales analysis.
