Amazon said it will hire more than 300,000 workers for seasonal, part-time and full-time roles across its U.S. core operations ahead of the holiday season. The announcement marks the company’s first increase in seasonal hiring for the period in three years as it prepares for a surge in orders.
The hiring comes despite Amazon’s mass layoffs, which have resulted in about 30,000 job cuts over the past year.
The new positions will span Amazon’s U.S. core operations network, with additional openings expected to be posted weekly from October through December. Seasonal employees will earn an average of $20 an hour, while full-time operations workers will start at a minimum of $20 an hour, according to the company. Average hourly pay across Amazon’s core operations workforce is nearly $24.
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Amazon also announced an expansion of its health care benefits. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, seasonal employees who work at least 30 hours a week will be eligible for health care coverage starting on their first day of employment.
“Our employees are at the heart of everything we do,” the company said. “These investments reflect our continued commitment to making Amazon a place where people can earn, learn, and create opportunities for themselves and their families.”
“Whether someone joins us for a season or builds a career here, we want them to feel valued and supported for the work they do. We deliver the future together,” the company added.
The announcement comes a week after Walmart expanded its health care benefits amid rising health care costs. The retailer’s plan reportedly offers employees more than 250 medications, including GLP-1 drugs, insulin and inhalers, at no cost.
U.S. holiday sales are expected to grow 4.2% from a year earlier to more than $1 trillion this year, according to a forecast released last week by the National Retail Federation.
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Amazon said seasonal roles give workers an opportunity to earn money, work flexible schedules and join the team during its busiest time of year. For some, the seasonal positions offer temporary employment, while for others, they can mark the beginning of a longer-term career, the retailer said.
The announcement also follows Amazon’s recent investment of more than $1.5 billion in additional pay for its U.S. core operations workforce.