Amazon is preparing for the upcoming holiday season by planning to hire 250,000 workers across its U.S. fulfillment and delivery network. The roles include full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions, with job postings expected to continue weekly through December. The company highlights that regular employees earn an average of $23 per hour, while seasonal workers can expect over $19 per hour. In addition, Amazon intends to invest over $1 billion in increasing pay and benefits for its fulfillment and transportation employees, raising the average total compensation to over $30 per hour when factoring in benefits.
Amazon's seasonal roles are reportedly popular, often filling up quickly after being posted. The company offers flexible scheduling for these positions, while full-time roles come with expanded benefits, including healthcare and educational opportunities through its Career Choice program, which covers tuition for workers pursuing degrees or certificates.
Amazon is one of the few companies publicly announcing holiday staffing plans amid a broader trend of subdued hiring in the retail sector. According to job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, seasonal retail hiring is projected to decline, potentially reaching the lowest levels since the recession of 2009. The firm estimates that retailers might add fewer than 500,000 positions in the final quarter of 2025, citing factors such as lingering inflation, tariffs, and a shift toward automation and permanent staffing.
Other retailers are also making staffing announcements for the holiday season, with Bath & Body Works planning to hire 32,000 workers, Spirit Halloween aiming for 50,000, and Kohl’s also looking to add seasonal staff. In contrast, Target has opted to utilize existing employees and a network of "OnDemand" workers without significant new hiring announcements.