Amazon plans to hire 300,000+ seasonal staff, first increase in three years

what happened

Amazon has said it will recruit more than 300,000 people for the American holiday season, Reuters reported. It is the first time in three years that the company has expanded its seasonal intake, which stood at 250,000 in each of the previous three seasons. The online retailer is preparing for a rush of orders and is filling seasonal, part-time and full-time posts across its core US operations.

Forecasts from the National Retail Federation point to US holiday sales growth accelerating 4.2% from a year earlier, to above $1 trillion. From next year, seasonal staff working at least 30 hours a week will get the same healthcare benefits as regular full-time employees. Walmart recently widened its own healthcare coverage for staff.

Pay is also part of the package: full-time workers will earn at least $20 an hour, averaging close to $24, while seasonal staff average $20 an hour.

why it matters

For markets, the hiring plan signals that Amazon expects strong demand into the year-end period. At the same time, wider healthcare coverage and higher pay raise the company's staffing costs, while households face rising living expenses. Investors will watch whether such hiring supports consumer spending growth.

market impact

Amazon and US retail: strong holiday hiring signals demand, but higher pay and benefits add to labor costs.

tags

instruments