Amazon is hiring for 100,000 positions to support its services with an unprecedented increase in demand amid Coronavirus

Amazon plans to hire more than 100,000 workers to assist in online deliveries in the USA, the UK, and many countries in the EU. Besides hiring, Amazon announced it will increase pay, through April, in the USA by $2 per hour, 2 pounds per hour in the UK, and approximately 2 euros per hour for its retailers in Europe. 

Dave Clark, senior vice president of worldwide operations at Amazon, said in an official blog post about hiring. He said that “We see a significant increase in demand, which means our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year. We are opening 100,000 new full and part-time positions across the US in our fulfillment centers and delivery network to meet the surge in demand from people relying on Amazon’s service during this stressful time, particularly those most vulnerable to being out in public.”

With the pandemic spread of coronavirus across the world, Amazon claims that there is an outrageous increase in online shopping. This increase caused a stock runout in many of its most popular brands and household staples. The on-time deliveries to the door-steps are also getting affected and one of the reason is the shortage of staff. 

READ: Amazon employee tests positive for coronavirus

The giant retailer, Amazon, thus need more employees for the unprecedented increase in demand. Dave Clark says that “as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Amazon and our network of partners are helping communities around the world in a way that very few can—delivering critical supplies directly to the door-steps of people who need them. Getting a priority item to your door-step is vital as communities practice social-distancing, particularly for the elderly and others with underlying health issues.”

Amazon is increasing the hourly rate of employees

Amazon is expecting to invest over $350 million for the compensation of hourly employees globally. Currently, the entry-level job pay in the different fulfillment centers of Amazon is $15 per hour. In addition to that, the company intends to increase the salary of the workers temporarily.

“In the US, we will be adding $2 per hour worked through April from our current rate of $15/hour or more, depending on the region, £2 per hour in the UK, and approximately €2 per hour in many EU countries,” Dave Clark said in an official statement.

Amazon is ramping up for hiring positions ranging from its warehouse services to the checkout counters. The company has opened its jobs for hiring in warehouses, shoppers, customer services, and drivers. 

Amazon also experienced a technical glitch on Sunday that affected Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods delivery services. The glitch happened as a result of a significant increase in people shopping online for groceries.  

“We are working around the clock with our selling partners to ensure availability on all of our products, and bring on the additional capacity delivering all of your orders,” Amazon spokesperson said in the blog post. 

Kroger is looking to increase its staff also

Kroger, an American retailing company, is also looking for more helping hands to keep shoppers organized and shelves fully stocked up. “A very positive statement we are seeing is that our grocery stores are hiring,” said Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner. 

Turner declared that Kroger grocery stores Huston would not shut down. During the press conference, he emphasized that there are no problems with the food supply chain and asked not to rush to the stores if things are running out.