As seasonal hiring slows, Amazon is hiring 300K workers for the holidays

BusinessAmazon announces seasonal hiring.William ThorntonAs recently reported, most companies won’t be hiring as much help for the holiday shopping season. Amazon is the exception.According to an article by Retail Dive, Amazon will hire 300,000 people, which is a “standout in a season where retailers are bringing ion fewer workers or staying quiet about their plans.”In 2025, Amazon cut 14,000 jobs “as a response to AI streamlining workforce needs,” the article said, adding that “earlier this month, Amazon confirmed job cuts in its retail division, impacting hundreds of employees.”Beginning next year, seasonal hiring will come with a perk usually reserved for full-time employees: health insurance.“That means anyone who joins us in these qualifying seasonal roles now or in the future will have access to healthcare – whether they join us for the holidays or at another point in the year,” J. Ofori Agboka, vice president of people experience and technology, told Retail Dive.The coverage begins Jan. 1, 2027. Seasonal workers earn an average of $20 per hour and the average starting pay for regular employees has increased to $24.Amazon has also added a 10% employee discount “on eligible grocery and everyday essentials on its website and at Whole Foods Market online.”Kelly Kazek is an award-winning journalist and author who writes about trends in business and retail news. She is the author of more than 28 books for children and adults. Kelly previously wrote about Southern...