Dive Brief:
- Amazon wants to hire 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers for customer fulfillment and transportation positions across the U.S., the company said in a Thursday press release.
- All seasonal employees make at least $18 per hour. Full-time employees are also eligible for first day benefits that include health care coverage and education tuition assistance. With benefits, the company said its average total compensation for fulfillment and transportation employees is over $29 per hour.
- Amazon said nearly one-third of people who come to work at the company as a holiday hire return. The company also said applicants can receive a contingent job offer immediately after applying for an open position.
Dive Insight:
Amazon’s latest hiring announcement mirrors the company’s position from last year, when it sought to hire a similar number of people ahead of the holidays. As of June 30, Amazon said it employed over 1.53 million people, excluding temporary workers and contractors. That’s up 5% from Q2 of last year.
The company joins many other retailers that have recently made noteworthy holiday hiring announcements. They include Target, which wants to bring on 100,000 seasonal workers; Macy’s, which said it has jobs for 31,500 people across its three banners; Burlington, which is seeking 24,000 people; and J.C. Penney, which is seeking 10,000 seasonal staff. Walmart said it’s been hiring throughout the year but hasn’t announced a specific number.
Amazon said last month it would invest $2.2 billion into additional pay for about 800,000 fulfillment and transportation workers. The move equates to a $1.50 per hour pay increase for anyone who works a 40-hour week. Hourly workers also receive a free Prime membership as long as they work for the company.
Additional benefits for Amazon employees include access to earned pay at any time; a 401(k) with company match; up to 20 weeks of paid pregnancy or parental leave for birth parents and six weeks leave for eligible supporting parents; and Amazon’s Resources for Living program, a free benefit that offers mental health and financial services and support.
Amazon also touted seasonal jobs as an opportunity to start a long-term career. In a blog post, Sandy Gordon, vice president of global operations employee experience, said seasonal employees who stay with the company can see an average pay bump of 15% during their first three years of employment.
Retail holiday hiring and layoff trends shifted after the onset of the pandemic, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. During the 2022 to 2023 and 2023 to 2024 holiday seasons, the BLS said the holiday hiring buildup shifted from being stronger than pre-pandemic trends to weaker. In 2022 to 2023, retailers added 454,000 holiday jobs.
