Dive Brief:
- Amazon aims to hire over 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time roles across its U.S. operations for the holiday season, according to a Tuesday announcement.
- That number is a 20% increase from the 250,000 holiday workers the company has hired seasonally since 2023.
- Additionally, starting on Jan. 1, Amazon will offer seasonal employees who work at least 30 hours per week healthcare coverage starting on their first day.
Dive Insight:
Amazon's increase in hiring is a standout in a season where retailers are bringing on fewer workers or staying quiet about their plans.
The company hires seasonal employees all year long. But, starting on New Year’s Day, a benefit that has typically been given to regular, full-time employees will soon be available to those seasonal workers: healthcare coverage starting on their first day.
“That means anyone who joins us in these qualifying seasonal roles now or in the future will have access to healthcare — whether they join us for the holidays or at another point in the year,” J. Ofori Agboka, vice president of people experience and technology, wrote in the announcement.
Eligible employees hired before Jan. 1 will gain access to coverage on that date. Seasonal employees earn an average of $20 an hour, per the company.
The e-commerce giant this fall announced that it was boosting pay for eligible employees. Full-time core operations employees now earn a minimum starting wage of $20 an hour. The move bumped the average starting wage to about $24 per hour.
Amazon also recently introduced grocery benefits, including an uncapped 10% discount on eligible grocery and everyday essentials on its website and at Whole Foods Market online, with 20% off in Whole Foods stores.
While Amazon is beefing up seasonal hiring, it has recently undergone layoffs in other parts of the company. Earlier this month, Amazon confirmed job cuts in its retail division, impacting hundreds of employees. Amazon declined to comment on the specific types of roles cut, but did say that the company was changing the structure of its stores business.
One year ago, Amazon reduced its corporate workforce by 14,000 roles as a response to AI streamlining workforce needs.
