Amazon is gearing up for the 2024 holiday season by bringing in the big guns—250,000 new transportation and warehouse workers across the United States. That’s the same number of new hires they brought on board last year, a clear indication of the importance of extra staff for retailers during the holiday rush. It’s a battle for both companies and consumers, with everyone wanting a piece of the holiday pie.
This isn’t just an Amazon strategy. Discount retailer Target is also prepping for the holiday rush, with plans to hire 100,000 seasonal employees. The retail industry, it seems, is bracing for an onslaught of holiday shoppers and online orders.
While Amazon is busy prepping for the holidays, they are also facing a unionization push from the Teamsters. The union has accused Amazon of unfair labor practices, including refusing to recognize workers’ right to unionize and interfering with union activities at a facility in Palmdale, California. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed charges against Amazon, alleging the company is a joint employer of its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) drivers and has been unfairly preventing unionization efforts.
Despite this unionization push, Amazon is still showing strong signs of growth in the online retail space. In 2023, Amazon’s U.S. sales on Cyber Monday hit a record $12.4 billion, exceeding the $12 billion estimate. Amazon’s total online sales for Cyber Week reached $38 billion, surpassing the $37.2 billion estimate. This strong performance underscores the continued strength of Amazon’s online retail business.
Overall, the holiday season is looking promising for retailers, with Mastercard projecting online holiday shopping to reach $240.8 billion, a 4.9% increase from last year. The retail industry is bracing for a busy holiday season, and Amazon is clearly ready to meet the demand head-on, even amidst unionization efforts.
