Amazon set to hire 150,000 employees to help deliver packages during the holiday season

HUNTLEY—Amazon recently announced that it plans to hire for approximately 3,500 seasonal, full-time and part-time positions across towns and cities in Illinois.

The company is looking to hire 150,000 employees total throughout the U.S., with Amazon stating that it has invested nearly $1 billion in payments over the next year to bring the average starting pay within the company to more than $19 per hour.

Unfortunately for Huntley residents, this will not include hiring for the 630,000-square foot Amazon receive center that has been in the works on property located on 41W368 Freeman Road, since 2021.

While the exterior of Huntley’s Amazon building is complete, there have been delays in constructing the interior of the facility, which has caused its anticipated opening date to be moved from the summer of 2022 to the end of next year.

Various news outlets reported that Amazon warehouse locations slated to be built in Crystal Lake and Hoffman Estates have been canceled as the result of lower customer demand due to the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic having eased.

This caused the company to have a surplus of warehouse space and employees.

Seeing as the holiday season is fast approaching, however, Amazon plans on hiring for a diverse range of roles—from picking and packing to shipping and delivery to accommodate the increase in customer demand.

Amazon Spokesperson Erica Duncan stated that these positions are available to applicants from all backgrounds and experience levels, with employees eligible to earn, on average, more than $19 per hour based on the position and location in the U.S.

“We’re proud to offer a wide variety of roles this season, with more than 150,000 roles available. Holidays are a great time for seasonal employees to join—many of whom return year after year or stay on in full-time roles,” said John Felton, senior vice president of Amazon Global Delivery Services.

Jobs in Amazon’s operations network include stowing, picking, packing, shipping, delivering customer orders, and more, stated Duncan.

She also added that full-time employees have the added benefits of receiving health, vision, and dental insurance from day one; a 401(k) with 50% company match; up to 20 week’s paid leave, which includes 14 weeks of pregnancy-related disability leave plus six weeks of parental leave; and Amazon’s Resources for Living program, a free mental health benefit offering services and support for employees, their families, and their households.

“Approximately 40% of seasonal employees stay on to further their careers by becoming a regular full-time Amazon employee. Job advancement and career building are an important focus for us as well, and this year alone, more than 20,000 entry-level employees have received promotions,” said Felton.

States with the greatest number of available positions include California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington, according to the company.

Individuals interested in browsing through all the regions with open positions can visit www.amazon.com/apply.