Amazon hiring new workers to keep up with the coronavirus demand
(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
DALLAS - Amazon wants to hire 100,000 new workers to meet increased demand because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The company is expecting a surge in online orders from people who are unable or unwilling to set foot in stores.
The new positions will be full and part-time at fulfillment centers across the country. About 5,900 will be in Texas. Delivery positions will also be available.
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Amazon said it is boosting pay by $2 an hour in the U.S. for the hiring spree. That includes workers at its warehouses, delivery centers and Whole Foods grocery stores, all of whom make at least $15 an hour.
“We are seeing a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year,” said Dave Clark, who oversees Amazon’s warehouse and delivery network.
Amazon is already the second-largest U.S.-based employer behind Walmart, with nearly 800,000 workers worldwide.
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