Amazon and Target announce big hiring, but retailers limit summer positions

Amazon announced it plans to hire 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers for the upcoming shopping frenzy. (Photo: Shutterstock)

2 minutes of reading Last update: October 4, 2024 | 11:56 IST

Retailers are preparing for the holiday shopping season, although they are expected to hire fewer seasonal workers than in previous years. According to the company’s report, employees will primarily help customers in stores and assist with placing online orders in warehouses Economic Times.

Amazon, Major Retailers Announce Hiring Plans

Amazon announced it plans to hire 250,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers for the upcoming shopping rush, a number comparable to last year. Similarly, Bath & Body Works and Target plan to hire about 100,000 seasonal workers. The report shows that both companies are offering current employees additional working hours during the holiday season.

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Other retailers, such as Kohl’s and Walmart, are taking different strategies. Kohl’s encourages applications but has not set recruitment goals, while Walmart hires associates year-round and intends to rely on its current employees during busy times.

Some retailers are cutting back on seasonal hiring

On the other hand, some companies limit employment during the holidays. Macy’s plans to hire more than 31,500 seasonal workers this year, up from 38,000 last year. The report said the job cuts reflect a cautious approach as retailers anticipate changes in consumer demand.

This year’s demand for seasonal workers is driven by concerns about a slowdown in the US labor market. The number of job openings is gradually decreasing, starting from their peak in March 2022. Companies facing increasing economic pressures must adapt their staffing strategies accordingly.

The holiday season remains a key period for retailers as both physical stores and e-commerce platforms prepare for high customer demand. Some retailers have already launched discount campaigns to encourage early Christmas shopping.

Despite uncertainty in the labor market, retail sales forecasts remain optimistic. Deloitte forecasts that U.S. retail sales will grow 2.3% to 3.3% in the November-January period, with total sales reaching $1.59 trillion. EY-Parthenon forecasts a similar 3% sales increase for the traditional November-December period, although much of that increase is expected to be due to inflation. The report shows that real volume sales will increase by only 0.5%.

Online sales, a growing segment of the market, are expected to grow 8.4 percent to a record $240.8 billion, according to Adobe’s analysis of e-commerce trends, as mentioned in the report.

First publication: October 4, 2024 | 11:56 IST