Amazon is planning to hire 75,000 additional employees across its fulfillment and logistics network in the U.S. and Canada.
The news comes as many companies struggle to find available workers amid continuing disruption to the job market caused by the COVID pandemic. The shortage of workers has prompted a wave of wage increases in a number of industries. For its part, Amazon recently announced pay increases across its fulfillment and transportation networks, and the company said that the newly announced roles will offer an average starting pay of more than $17 per hour as well as sign-on bonuses in many locations of up to $1,000.
In April 2020, Amazon beat back a unionization attempt by employees at one of its fulfillment centers in Alabama despite complaints about poor working conditions. Later that same month, Amazon was named by LinkedIn as the No. 1 most desirable workplace in the U.S.
Hiring for the 75,000 new roles is already underway. In announcing the positions, Amazon touted its on-site vaccination events at more than 250 locations across the U.S. and Canada, and also said that new hires who are already vaccinated will receive a $100 bonus.
Advertisement
“We look forward to hiring 75,000 associates across our fulfillment and transportation network,” said Alicia Boler Davis, VP of Global Customer Fulfillment at Amazon in a statement. “Working at Amazon also comes with an unwavering commitment to safety, especially as we continue to navigate a global pandemic.”
