What: Amazon plans to hire 250,000 transportation and warehouse workers for the holiday season, maintaining the same hiring level as last year.

Why it is important: This hiring plan reflects Amazon's strategy to manage increased e-commerce demand during the holiday season while highlighting its competitive stance in the retail labour market despite broader economic challenges.

Amazon has announced its intention to hire 250,000 seasonal workers for the upcoming holiday shopping season, matching last year's hiring numbers. This decision aligns with expectations of a 4.9% increase in online holiday spending, projected to reach a record USD 240.8 billion. While overall holiday spending is anticipated to rise by 3.2%, Amazon's hiring approach underscores its commitment to meeting heightened e-commerce demands.

The seasonal workforce will include positions in sort centres, fulfilment centres, and delivery stations, although specific allocations between fulfilment and transport roles remain unspecified. Notably, transport roles will exclude delivery service partners and their teams. Despite maintaining flat hiring numbers compared to last year, Amazon's recruitment plan surpasses that of competitors like Target, which plans to add 100,000 workers.

This announcement comes amid a softer U.S. labour market, with retailers expected to add 520,000 jobs this season, down from last year's 564,200. Additionally, Amazon faces scrutiny from the National Labor Relations Board regarding its status as a "joint employer" of drivers for Battle Tested Strategies (BTS), following unionization efforts by BTS drivers.

Amazon to hire 250,000 seasonal workers for holidays