Amazon to Add 120,000 Workers for Holidays

Amazon.com Inc. plans to hire 20% more seasonal workers for its U.S. warehouses this holiday season as some competitors have kept hiring steady.

The Seattle retailer plans to add 120,000 seasonal positions, up from 100,000 last year. By comparison, Target Corp. is looking to hire 70,000 additional workers in its stores, the same as last year, and Macy's Inc. is planning for 83,000, compared with 85,000 last year. Department stores, specialty shops and big-box retailers have struggled recently, hurt by falling foot traffic as shoppers increasingly turn to Amazon and fast-fashion options such as Hennes & Mauritz AB.

In recent years, big retailers have rapidly added warehouses and distribution centers across the country to get their online orders to customers faster. But some retailers and logistics contractors have struggled to find enough seasonal workers to keep their warehouses and distribution centers humming.

Amazon and others have tried to transition some seasonal positions to full-time jobs after the holidays are over in an effort to lure employees. The company said 14,000 seasonal employees were hired full-time last year, and the company plans to bring on more full-time workers this year.

Amazon shares, which have risen 12% in the past three months, slipped 0.7% in light premarket trading.

Write to Joshua Jamerson at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 13, 2016 07:45 ET (11:45 GMT)

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