Amazon is preparing for a stronger U.S. holiday shopping season by planning to hire more than 300,000 workers, marking the first increase in seasonal recruitment in three years. The move comes as retailers anticipate higher consumer spending and growing order volumes, while also navigating rising labor and healthcare costs.

Amazon Raises Seasonal Hiring for the First Time in Three Years

Amazon said it employed about 250,000 seasonal workers during each of the past three holiday seasons. This year, the company plans to exceed 300,000 hires across seasonal, part-time and full-time positions supporting its core U.S. operations.

The increase represents a significant expansion of temporary staffing capacity ahead of the year’s most important retail period. For Amazon, the additional workers are intended to provide greater operational flexibility as order volumes rise, particularly across the company’s extensive fulfillment and delivery operations.

The hiring plan also provides an indication of Amazon’s expectations for the holiday period. After maintaining seasonal recruitment at the same level for three years, the decision to expand staffing suggests the company is preparing for a more active shopping environment.

Holiday Sales Expected to Surpass $1 Trillion

The hiring increase coincides with a more positive outlook for U.S. holiday retail activity. The National Retail Federation forecasts holiday sales growth of 4.2% from the previous year, with total spending expected to exceed $1 trillion.

That forecast provides important context for Amazon’s staffing decision. Stronger sales expectations can translate into higher order volumes and greater pressure on retailers to maintain delivery capacity during the peak shopping period. Amazon’s ability to expand its workforce provides additional capacity to manage that seasonal demand.

For investors, the development also highlights the relationship between consumer demand and Amazon’s operating costs. Higher sales can support revenue growth, but additional workers also increase expenses, making productivity and fulfillment efficiency important considerations during the holiday quarter.

Pay and Benefits Become Increasingly Important

Amazon said full-time employees will receive a minimum wage of $20 per hour, while average pay will reach nearly $24 per hour. Seasonal employees will receive average hourly wages of $20, according to the company.

The company also announced that beginning next year, seasonal employees working at least 30 hours per week will receive healthcare benefits offered to regular full-time employees. The change comes as healthcare expenses continue to place pressure on American households and employers.

Retailers Balance Demand With Rising Costs

Amazon’s announcement comes shortly after Walmart expanded healthcare benefits for its workforce, highlighting the broader labor-cost environment facing major U.S. retailers. At the same time, Amazon announced a small number of layoffs in its retail division earlier in October, demonstrating how the company is adjusting staffing levels across different parts of its business even as it expands seasonal employment.

The combination reflects a more selective approach to workforce management: permanent staffing can be adjusted according to business needs, while seasonal hiring provides additional capacity when demand is expected to peak.

Going forward, Amazon’s holiday performance will depend on whether stronger consumer demand materializes as forecast and whether the company can manage the associated labor costs efficiently. Holiday sales, order volumes, seasonal productivity and workforce expenses will be important indicators of how effectively Amazon converts increased staffing into stronger operating performance during the critical retail season.