Amazon is gearing up for the holiday season by announcing its plan to hire 250,000 employees across the United States. This seasonal hiring spree aims to support the increased demand during the busy holiday shopping period.

The e-commerce giant traditionally bolsters its workforce during the peak holiday season, bringing in temporary workers to cope with the surge in customer orders. However, this year’s hiring target is notably higher than in previous years. In 2021, Amazon announced plans to hire 150,000 temporary employees for the holiday season.

The new hires will encompass a mix of full-time, part-time, and seasonal positions within Amazon’s warehouses and delivery network. Hourly wages for these roles will range from $17 to $28. Additionally, the company is offering sign-on bonuses ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 in select locations to attract workers.

Amazon has also increased the average hourly pay for its warehouse and delivery employees to $20.50, up from the previous rate of $19 per hour. This wage increase was recently introduced at Amazon’s conference for members of its contracted delivery partner program.

The move to raise wages comes amidst growing labor tensions within Amazon’s workforce. In response to concerns about worker treatment and warehouse safety, employees at several Amazon facilities have taken steps to organize. Meanwhile, lawmakers and advocacy groups have criticized the company’s warehouse injury records and labor practices.

Notably, in some locations, Amazon’s new pay scale will offer employees an hourly wage of up to $28, which positions the company’s compensation more competitively in the labor market.

As one of the largest employers in the United States, Amazon had approximately 1.46 million employees worldwide as of the end of the second quarter. This substantial seasonal hiring initiative reflects the company’s commitment to meet customer demand during the critical holiday shopping season while addressing labor market challenges.

Amazon’s announcement underscores the importance of adequate staffing to ensure timely deliveries and a seamless shopping experience for customers during the holiday season.

The retail giant will continue to play a pivotal role in the e-commerce landscape as it prepares for the anticipated surge in online shopping over the holidays.