Dive Brief:

• Amazon on Tuesday announced it is creating an additional 100,000 seasonal jobs, according to a company press release. 

• The seasonal positions include work in order fulfillment and other operational jobs. The company will train the new hires and will follow COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the company said. 

• The company has promoted over 35,000 operations employees this year. Additionally, 30,000 employees have taken part in the company's Career Choice upskilling program, per the company statement.

Dive Insight:

Amazon has continued to hire additional staff over the past year. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced many retailers to temporarily close in mid-March, the company hired 100,000 workers to keep up with the increased demand. In September, the company announced that it was hiring 100,000 workers in operations roles in the U.S. and Canada after building up its capacity. 

While Amazon grows its staff in preparation for the holidays, so are other retailers. Walmart and Target, for example, have each hired more employees ahead of the holidays, with many roles devoted to same-day services or e-commerce fulfillment. E-commerce is expected to be especially crucial this season as COVID-19 sparks in-store shopping concerns.

Amazon was recently ranked second on Forbes World's Best Employers list, but the company has faced criticism for its work environment. Earlier this month, Reveal reported that the company's injury rate has been increasing over the past few years. A 2019 article from Buzzfeed examined deaths reportedly linked to the company's delivery practices. Amazon workers in Germany organized a strike on Prime Day this year to protest their pay and working conditions.