Amazon plans 300,000-plus US holiday hires, up 20%

Amazon plans to hire more than 300,000 workers for the 2026 US holiday season, a 20% increase from 2025 and its first rise in seasonal recruitment for the period in three years, the company said Tuesday. The positions will include seasonal, part-time and full-time roles across Amazon’s US operations. The company said seasonal employees will earn an average of $20 an hour. The hiring plan is an announcement, not a count of jobs already filled. Amazon also said that, starting in 2027, US seasonal employees who work at least 30 hours per week will receive healthcare benefits offered to regular full-time employees. The benefit is tied to the weekly-hours threshold. In Canada, Amazon is hiring 9,000 seasonal workers for the holiday period, according to a separate report. That is up from 7,000 roles last year and matches the 9,000 seasonal workers hired for in 2024. The Canadian openings span 55 sites, including fulfilment centres, sortation centres and delivery stations, and are expected to be posted on a rolling basis. The Canadian report put the average base wage for those seasonal jobs at nearly $24 an hour. It also said seasonal employees receive mental health support through...