Amazon has announced plans to hire 250,000 additional workers in the United States for the upcoming holiday shopping season, marking a 67% increase compared to its hiring numbers over the past two years. This expansion is part of Amazon’s efforts to enhance its next-day delivery services for shoppers.
In contrast to Amazon’s strategy, many other U.S. retailers are planning to hire fewer employees for in-store and warehouse positions this year due to expectations of reduced consumer spending in 2023. Forecasters anticipate that holiday sales will be roughly half of what they were the previous year due to concerns about rising prices.
Part-time workers for the upcoming holiday season
Seasonal hiring is projected to reach its lowest point since 2008, according to Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, primarily due to increased costs and waning consumer confidence.
For instance, Target recently announced its intention to hire 100,000 employees for the holiday shopping season, maintaining the same hiring levels as the previous year. Additionally, Target plans to initiate discounts starting in October.
Amazon expected to hire 250,000 new workers this holiday season
Macy’s, on the other hand, intends to hire over 38,000 full and part-time workers for the upcoming holiday season, which represents a decrease from the previous year. As of now, U.S. retail giant Walmart has not disclosed its holiday hiring plans, but in 2022, it hired 40,000 seasonal workers.
Amazon’s decision to increase its hiring coincides with the addition of 50 new fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and same-day delivery services across the United States. It is also in preparation for its extended fall Prime Event, scheduled for October 10-11.
Full-time, Part-time, and Seasonal Fulfillment Employees
During Amazon’s Prime Event, the e-commerce giant is encouraging its sellers to offer discounts, a strategy that may promote budget-conscious shoppers to make early gift purchases ahead of the traditional Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping days.
Amazon’s seasonal hiring includes various roles, such as full-time, part-time, and seasonal fulfillment employees. New seasonal hires responsible for picking, sorting, packing, and shipping orders may receive sign-on bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 in select locations. This differs from previous years when some associates received $3,000 prizes in specific areas during 2022 and 2021.
Amazon has announced that it will pay its seasonal workers an average wage ranging from $17 to $28 per hour, depending on their roles and locations. This is a slight adjustment from the $19 hourly wage offered to workers last year.
