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Amazon plans high school recruitment push amid shortage of workers: report

Amazon reportedly plans to hire graduate high school students to its warehouses because it struggles with other companies for workers in a very tight labor market.

The e-commerce giant will launch a recruitment push next month – company representatives are ready to promote Amazon’s perks and benefits in schools across the US and Canada. The push comes as the Coalition of Allies claims that Amazon has a poor workplace safety record, and Amazon is working to improve it, the Post said in a statement.

The company’s high school recruiting efforts include appearances by Amazon recruiters over hundreds of high school career days, and an emphasis on college tuition support for workers Information Reported to the person who described the project.

Amazon and other companies are looking to increase recruitment as the economy reopens during the COVID-19 epidemic. But tight labor conditions complicate the task, with US unemployment at just 3.6%, according to recent jobs data.

In March, there were more than 5 million job openings available to fill roles.

Amazon is competing with big-box retailers such as Walmart and Target, who are increasing benefits to attract new workers.Amazon employs more than 1.6 million people worldwide.AFP by Getty Images

Amazon representatives did not immediately return a request for comment on the recruitment drive. But a company official confirmed the plans in a statement to The Information.

“We are always looking for good employees and [we] We are proud to be the employer of choice for graduating high school students, ”Amazon spokeswoman Lisa Campos told Outlet.

The high school recruitment drive is the largest of its kind for Amazon – which has paused similar efforts over the past two years due to safety concerns during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Amazon hinted at the need to hire more workers in its fourth-quarter earnings release in February, with CEO Andy Jassi forecasting the company’s “high costs from labor supply shortages and inflationary pressures” in the 2022 holiday season. 

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Amazon is facing increasing pressure on its workplace practices.

AFP by Getty Images

The latest recruitment drive unfolds as Amazon faces mounting pressure to improve its work habits. Earlier this month, workers at the Amazon warehouse in Staten Island became the first in the company’s history after a long organizational drive at the facility.

The push for workers was successful despite strong opposition from Amazon, which called for the cancellation of the election. The effort garnered the support of President Biden, who warned “Amazon, here we come” while supporting the organizers.

Meanwhile, injury rates at Amazon warehouses jumped 20% in 2021 – despite pledges by company executives to improve safety measures at facilities. According to the Strategic Organizing Center, Amazon accounts for roughly half of all warehouse injuries in the US.

The company has hired tens of thousands of people to meet the unexpected demand from COVID-19, Amazon.com said in a statement.

“Like other companies in the industry, we have seen an increase in recordable injuries at this time from 2020 to 2021 because we have trained many new people – however, compared to 2021 to 2019, our recordable injury rate is down 13% year over year,” an Amazon spokesperson Said Kelly Nantel.

Amazon employs more than 1.6 million people worldwide – including about 750,000 hourly workers in the US. Last month, the company revealed that it has partnered with more than 140 colleges to offer fully-funded college tuition to its hourly employees.

The company aims to persuade hikers to work in their warehouses during the summer break – then use the benefits of graduation even if they don’t expect to get into college.

The e-commerce firm raised its average hourly wage for warehouse workers to $ 18 last fall. Other benefits for full-time employees include a 401 (k) with medical, dental and vision coverage and 50% company adjustment.