Amazon Seeks 250K Holiday Workers Amid Muted Hiring Season

Core Insights - Amazon plans to maintain its hiring levels at 250,000 for the 2025 holiday season, the same as in 2023 and 2024, indicating stability in its seasonal workforce strategy [2] - The retail sector in the U.S. is expected to see muted hiring, with fewer than 500,000 seasonal jobs projected, marking the lowest level in 16 years [3] - Factors such as tariffs, inflation, and a shift towards automation are influencing hiring practices among retailers [4] Group 1: Amazon's Hiring Strategy - Amazon's seasonal roles are popular, often filling quickly, and provide opportunities for extra income or career advancement [2] - Temporary employees at Amazon earn an average of $19 per hour, while permanent roles average $23 per hour [2] Group 2: Retail Sector Trends - Retailers added 543,100 jobs in the last quarter of the previous year, a decrease of nearly 4% from 2023 [3] - Companies are adopting a cautious approach to hiring, with many waiting until late in the season to increase staffing levels [3][5] - The overall hiring slowdown may lead to fewer workers being hired by retailers, as consumer spending also slows down [6] Group 3: Economic Factors Impacting Retail - Ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty are affecting both retailers and consumers as they approach the holiday season [6] - Retailers may need to adapt by doing more with less, reflecting a cautious outlook on seasonal sales [5][6]