Amazon is offering a wide range of Labor Day deals on items such as laptops, Apple products, TVs, headphones, smart home devices, kitchen appliances, furniture, and more.
Online retailers are advised to use discounts, customer-friendly return policies, and AI tools to capture sales during the upcoming holiday season as global online sales are predicted to reach $1.19 trillion, with the US accounting for $273 billion, according to Salesforce's holiday forecast.
Amazon is investing over $440 million to increase wages for its contracted delivery employees, expecting them to earn an average of $20.50 per hour or more.
US retailers are expected to hire the lowest number of seasonal workers since 2008 due to increased labor costs and shaky consumer confidence.
Target plans to hire nearly 100,000 employees for the holiday season and start offering discounts in October, as predictions suggest that sales growth during the crucial holiday period in the US could be half of last year's due to higher prices and concerns of a recession.
Amazon is hiring 250,000 employees nationwide, including 28,000 in Texas, for full-time, part-time, and seasonal roles, with average wages of over $20.50 per hour.
UPS is hiring over 100,000 seasonal workers, primarily delivery drivers and package handlers, to meet the demand during the holiday season.
Amazon is increasing pay for its operations workers in the UK and hiring an additional 15,000 staff ahead of the holidays, in response to rising demand and worker protests over pay and working conditions.
Macy's and Dick's Sporting Goods plan to hire fewer seasonal workers this year, reflecting a more cautious approach to hiring in the retail sector and suggesting a cooling labor market; however, Amazon plans to hire more seasonal workers than last year.
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Amazon's worker safety concerns are being scrutinized by regulators and the Department of Justice, as data from the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows high injury rates among Amazon laborers, leading to citations for failing to keep workers safe; meanwhile, California is set to increase its minimum wage to $18 per hour next year, making it one of the highest in the country.
Amazon is working to regain sustained growth and profitability after a period of decline, but it is also facing a major legal battle with the U.S. government and potential antitrust scrutiny overseas. Additionally, the company is focusing on generative artificial intelligence and preparing for a busy holiday shopping season.
Walmart indicated that it has sufficient staff for the holiday season, signaling a departure from the typical hiring sprees seen during this time of year, as rising labor costs and cautious consumer spending contribute to a muted retail hiring trend.
