Dive Brief:
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Amazon will hire 80,000 seasonal workers ahead of the holiday season, 14% more than last year.
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The temporary employees will work at the company’s more than 50 distribution and 15 sorting centers, and many will become permanent positions.
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The sorting centers and additional workers could help prevent the logistical nightmare of last year, when many last-minute orders didn’t make it to customers’ doorsteps in time.
Dive Insight:
This pickup in hiring by many retailers this year signals that they’re anticipating a robust holiday season. That could be true, although it may be tempered by heavy demands for lower prices.
In addition to this seasonal hiring, Amazon is opening physical stores in California and New York City in the upcoming months.