Online retail giant in big part-time worker push

Amazon continues its hiring spree.



The company announced Thursday that it plans to add more than 30,000 part-time positions in the United States over the next year. The new positions are on top of the previously announced 100,000 full-time U.S. jobs Amazon will add during the next 18 months.



Some 5,000 of the new part-time hires will be in Amazon’s Virtual Customer Service program, which offers employees the flexibility to work from home as a customer service agent.



“There are lots of people who want or need a flexible job—whether they’re a military spouse, a college student, or a parent—and we’re happy to empower these talented people no matter where they happen to live,” said Tom Weiland, Amazon VP for worldwide customer service. “We’re finding that roles with Virtual Customer Service are particularly attractive to military spouses who want to continue working and parenting, even if their spouse is deployed or the family is relocated, as often happens with military families. Wounded, injured or ill military veterans and others with mobility challenges are also enjoying these opportunities to work from home with Amazon.”



In addition, Amazon will create more than 25,000 part-time roles during the next year across its network of sortation and fulfillment centers.



Currently, the company has nearly 40,000 part-time U.S. employees. Amazon noted that over 70% of part-time employees in virtual customer service and customer fulfillment areas work more than 20 hours per week, which means they receive benefits, including life and disability insurance, dental and vision insurance with premiums paid in full by Amazon, and funding towards medical insurance.



Part-time employees can also participate in Amazon’s Career Choice program, which helps train employees for in-demand jobs at Amazon or elsewhere so that they can take full advantage of the nation’s innovation economy. The program pre-pays 95% of tuition for courses related to in-demand fields, regardless of whether the skills are relevant to a future career at Amazon.