Amazon is hiring 100,000 workers as orders skyrocket even as warnings are being sounded about the loss of jobs across North Carolina and the US as part of the coronavirus fallout.
Among those openings as listed on job sites Indeed.com:
- 43 in the Triangle, including its massive distribution center in Garner and operations in Durham
- Another 120 across North Carolina
There may be more coming as most of the Indeed listings date back several weeks.
Amazon says the coronavirus pandemic has caused a surge in online shopping — and it’s adding 100,000 new full-time and part-time positions across the United States to keep up with the demand.
“Our labor needs are unprecedented for this time of year,” Amazon said in a blog post Monday. The company has said that customers could experience longer delivery times than usual because of the high volume of orders.
Report: Virus puts millions of jobs at risk; economist predicts ‘5 digit’ losses in NC
While Amazon ramps up capacity, US jobs elsewhere are in jeopardy as bars, restaurants, movie theaters and other public places shut down across the country.
The United States could lose up to 1 million jobs in March alone because of the severe disruptions caused by the coronavirus, former top Trump administration economist Kevin Hassett has warned.
“You’re looking at one of the biggest negative job numbers we’ve ever seen,” Hassett told CNN’s Poppy Harlow on Monday.
