Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, plans to hire 150,000 temporary workers by the end of May as the coronavirus pandemic continues to sweep through the country.
This news comes just days after rival Amazon disclosed plans to hire 100,000 people – include additional jobs in the Triangle.
And pizza chain Domino’s is looking to hire up to 10,000 workers as people shift their eating habits to takeout or delivery amid restrictions surrounding the pandemic.
Other firms adding thousands of workers include Dollar Tree and 7-Eleven.
The good employment news offsets at least a bit of the increase layoff numbers across the country as companies slash thousands of jobs.
Walmart said it is hiring the associates to work in stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers.
“These roles will be temporary at first, but many will convert to permanent roles over time,” Walmart said in a press release. “We’ve reached out to industry groups representing restaurants and hospitality to facilitate temporary roles that can be a bridge for their employees during this difficult time.”
The company said it plans to expedite the application time from two weeks to 24 hours.
“We know millions of Americans who are usually employed at this time are temporarily out of work, and at the same time we’re currently seeing strong demand in our stores,” said Doug McMillon, president and CEO of Walmart. “We’re looking for people who see Walmart as a chance to earn some extra money and perform a vital service to their community.”
Walmart has a workforce of about 1.5 million US workers. During the holidays, the company often focuses on giving additional hours to some workers instead of bringing on new hires.
But the coronavirus is pushing the company to bring on new workers to help meet the crush of demand.
Walmart also said it will hand out cash bonuses to employees. Full-time hourly workers will receive $300, while part-time hourly workers will receive $150. The company added that it will speed up the next scheduled quarterly bonus for associates. The special bonus and early payout will total nearly $550 million.
Dollar Tree, which also owns Family Dollar, said Friday it’s hiring 25,000 full- and part-time workers for its 15,000 US stores and 24 distribution centers
The company is looking to hire cashiers and stockers at its retail stores and fillers and equipment operators at its distribution centers.
“We are committed to serving our communities by providing customers with critical essentials, especially during times of uncertainty,” CEO Gary Philbin said in a press release.
Convenience store giant 7-Eleven also announced a huge hiring initiative Friday, aiming to bring on 20,000 new store employees to “meet increased demand for 7-Eleven products and services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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Amazon hiring
On Tuesday, Amazon said the coronavirus outbreak has caused a surge in online shopping, and the online giant is adding 100,000 new full-time and part-time positions across the United States to keep up with the demand.
Jobs already are available in the Triangle.
Among those openings as listed on job sites Indeed.com:
- Scores in the Triangle, including its massive distribution center in Garner and operations in Durham
- More cross North Carolina
There may be more coming as most of the Indeed listings date back several weeks.
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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.
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.
