Distribution giant Amazon has begun looking ahead to the holiday season, and it wants a quarter-million people throughout the U.S. to beef up its ranks. For Fresno and Visalia, that means 1,400 job openings, according to a company spokesperson.
“The holiday season is always a special time at Amazon and we’re excited to hire 250,000 additional people this year to help serve customers across the country,” John Felton, Amazon’s senior vice president of worldwide operations said in a news release.
Positions include picking, packing, sorting, shipping, and more. Applicants do not necessarily need experience. Full-time and part-time positions are available as well.
Felton said fulfillment and transportation employees starting this season can expect 13% pay raises within three years. Average pay for fulfillment and transportation workers reached $20.50 this year, according to a spokesperson.
Amazon operates two distribution warehouses in Fresno and two in Visalia.
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Target announced Tuesday it would be hiring 100,000 seasonal workers nationally. The company did not immediately respond with a request for local hiring goals. Walmart has not announced it holiday hiring targets yet.
Amazon Supercharging Hiring Goals Despite Slower Holiday Sales Outlook
The 250,000 hires this year is a 67% increase from the 150,000 the company called for in 2022. At the same time, consulting firm Bain & Co. predicted retail sales to only grow 3% from 2022, down from the 5.1% annual growth in 2022 and 12.4% growth in 2021.
Amazon needs to staff 50 fulfillment centers and delivery stations built this year. In California, the company employs 160,000 people directly, according to a study commissioned by Amazon.
Target’s hiring goals match what the company sought in 2022. Macy’s put a call out for 38,000 seasonal positions, down from 41,000 last year.
Households have more disposable income compared to 2022 and inflation has cooled, but consumers still face higher prices than the year before, the report stated. High interest rates may also deter extravagant spending.
