Amazon adding 120,000 workers to meet holiday demand
NEW YORK — The holidays are coming and Amazon plans to add 120,000 seasonal workers in an effort to meet an expected spike in demand as more and more people trade bricks for clicks.
The seasonal positions will be created at fulfilmentcentres, sorting centres and customer service sites in 27 states. The move marks a 20 per cent boost from the 100,000 seasonal hires a year ago.
The move comes as online shopping growth continues to eclipse shopping at traditional stores. The National Retail Federation, based in Washington, D.C., is forecasting holiday sales for the November and December period to rise 3.6 per cent to $655.8 billion, much better than the 3 per cent growth seen in the year-ago period. Online shopping is expected to rise 7 to 10 per cent over last year to as much as $117 billion.
Ever since capacity problems in 2013 caused some people to get packages after the holidays, Amazon has been pouring money into its distribution centres and logistics chain, opening new distribution centres and leasing its own planes and trucks to speed up delivery.