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Whasington, Oktober 22, 2026 – Amazon is set to hire more than 300,000 workers across the United States for the 2026 holiday season, marking its largest seasonal recruitment drive in three years.
The figure represents a 20 percent increase from last year’s 250,000 hires, underscoring the company’s confidence in robust consumer demand during the peak shopping period.
The hiring spree will cover fulfillment centers, delivery stations, and transportation networks nationwide.
Seasonal employees will earn an average of $20 per hour, while full time operations staff will see minimum wages at the same level, with average pay approaching $24 per hour.
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The company emphasized that job postings will be released weekly from October through December, often filling within minutes due to high demand.
In a significant policy shift, Amazon announced that starting January 1, 2027, seasonal employees working at least 30 hours per week will receive healthcare coverage from their first day.
Plans will begin at $5 per week, with $5 copays, a move that positions Amazon ahead of many competitors in offering benefits to temporary staff.
The expansion comes as the National Retail Federation projects U.S. holiday sales to grow 4.2 percent year on year, surpassing $1 trillion for the first time.
While rivals Walmart and Target are relying more on existing staff rather than large-scale seasonal hiring, smaller retailers such as Spirit Halloween and Dick’s Sporting Goods collectively plan to add about 73,000 workers.
Amazon’s aggressive recruitment highlights both opportunity and risk.
With unemployment relatively low, competition for temporary labor is expected to intensify, potentially raising costs for smaller retailers.
At the same time, expanded healthcare coverage will add to Amazon’s labor expenses, pressuring margins during a season characterized by high volume but thin profit margins.
Despite the surge in hiring, Amazon continues to invest heavily in robotics and AI-driven logistics, signaling that reliance on seasonal labor may decline in the long term.
For now, however, the company’s strategy reflects a bet on strong holiday demand and a desire to lead the retail sector in worker benefits.
At a time when consumer expectations for speed and convenience are reshaping the retail landscape, Amazon’s move underscores its ambition to dominate holiday shopping while setting new standards for seasonal employment.
