Karen Ciano, left, and Shawna Couch pack customer orders in cardboard boxes for shipment at the Amazon distribution center in Charleston, Tenn.TO APPLYGo to www.workatamazonfulfillment.com.
Amazon is firing up its hiring for the holidays, with its Chattanooga and Charleston, Tenn., distribution centers slated to land their share of several thousand seasonal jobs the online retailer is creating in the Volunteer State.
Nationally, Amazon plans 80,000 seasonal slots at its 50 fulfillment centers and 15 sortation sites. That's up from 70,000 last year and 50,000 in 2012.
Amazon wouldn't specify how many of the temporary jobs the two Southeast Tennessee centers will gain, but Bradley County officials said in September that employment in Charleston could double to about 1,000 workers for the Christmas season.
The Chattanooga distribution center now employs about 2,500 full-time workers and will see seasonal hiring as well, according to Amazon.
Amazon also has Tennessee distribution centers in Murfreesboro and Lebanon. Nashville has a sortation center.
Amazon spokeswoman Nina Lindsey said some of the seasonal jobs are expected to turn into permanent positions after the holidays.
"We're looking forward to bringing in new folks across the U.S.," she said Wednesday.
Mike Roth, Amazon's vice president of North America operations, said in a statement that Amazon has converted more than 10,000 seasonal employees in the U.S. into regular, full-time posts so far this year.
"We're excited to be creating 80,000 seasonal jobs, thousands of which will lead to regular, full-time roles with benefits starting on day one and innovative programs like Career Choice for employees to further pursue their education," Roth said.
Lindsey said the seasonal jobs typically pay 95 percent of what a full-time employee earns.
Integrity Staffing, which often hires employees for Amazon in Chattanooga, is advertising warehouse jobs paying up to $11.75 per hour.
In 2011, Amazon built Hamilton Place mall-sized fulfillment centers in Chattanooga and Charleston, investing $139 million. Unlike the Chattanooga center, the Charleston site focuses on larger items such as lawn mowers, hot tubs, grills and other goods.
The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Amazon will soon open its first physical store in New York City for the holidays. In addition, Amazon plans to open holiday pop-up stores in San Francisco and Sacramento, Calif.
Nationwide for the holidays, more hiring among businesses is expected than last year. Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. reported that continued employment gains across all industries and higher consumer spending are boosting the demand for seasonal workers.
UPS, which handles many of the shipments sold by Amazon, plans to add 95,000 seasonal workers, nearly double last year.
Nationwide, Challenger said retailers like Macy's and Walmart are adding a projected 800,000 holiday workers to their ranks, their highest level of seasonal hiring since 1999.
Contact Mike Pare at mpare@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6318.