Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), the Seattle-based online retail giant, announced today that it will be adding 80,000 temporary workers to its payroll in the coming weeks. The workers will be hired to augment the existing staff at 50 warehouses and 15 sorting centers in the United States as it readies itself for the holiday shopping season.
These workers will allow Amazon to offer Sunday deliveries as well as offer a later cut-off hour for next day shipping.
Check our live coverage of Apple’s iPad Event
Up from last year
The 80,000 jobs represent a 14% increase over the 70,000 temporary warehouse and fulfillment positions that Amazon added to its staff in 2013. However, it’s nowhere near the 40% jump in seasonal hires that the company enjoyed between 2012 and 2013.
The company has been criticized in the past for its use of temporary workers and its “revolving door” policy. However, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) has fired back at these criticisms and pointed out that that temporary doesn’t always mean temporary and that a number of workers will enjoy full-time status after the holidays come to a close.
“So far this year, we have converted more than 10,000 seasonal employees in the U.S. into regular, full-time roles and we’re looking forward to converting thousands more,” Mike Roth, Amazon’s vice president of North America operations, said in the statement.
The increase in temporary hires is indicative of the fact that Amazon is anticipating a 20% revenue increase in the fourth quarter year-over-year from 2013 given the strengthening U.S. economy.
Amazon is not alone
Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is far from alone in its need for seasonal employees. Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M) plans to hire 86,000 for the holiday season up 3,000 from last year. Kohl’s Corporation (NYSE:KSS) is next on the list of retailers with plans to add 67,000 season workers up considerably from 50,000 last year. The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) is planning 63,000 workers to help them through the holidays.
Perhaps owing to Amazon’s expectations as well as a larger shift to online shopping in the grand scheme of things, United Parcel Service will be adding somewhere between 90,000 and 95,000 to help with deliveries.
