Amazon delivers hiring boom

Scott Martin | USA TODAY

SAN FRANCISCO -- Profits be damned, Amazon is going gangbusters on a hiring spree.

Retail juggernaut Amazon said Monday it plans to add 7,000 jobs in an effort to meet growth demands. The company plans to add 5,000 full-time jobs across its U.S. fulfillment centers. It also is adding 2,000 customer service jobs ranging from full time, part time and seasonal positions.

The online giant says the fulfillment center jobs promise pay 30% higher than those of traditional retail jobs.

Amazon's hiring boom comes as the company — known to eschew profit pressures in pursuit of growth — last week posted a quarterly loss on a 22% leap in revenue.

Shares of Amazon closed down $5.91, or 1.9%, to $306.10.

President Obama is scheduled to visit Amazon's Chattanooga, Tenn., facility on Tuesday, according to the White House. He is expected to make a series of speeches on the economy and jobs in the region.

"We're creating thousands of new full-time jobs in our fulfillment network to meet growing customer demand," said Amazon spokeswoman Mary Osako.

Amazon's hiring move will help fill its growing presence of distribution centers as the company tackles ever-expanding shopping categories. AmazonFresh, the company's grocery delivery business, is one category that has been slowly expanding from its Seattle delivery roots. Last month, it began service in some areas of Los Angeles.

"As they add categories, they add revenue and jobs. Amazon methodically goes after categories one after another and applies low price, large selection and convenience," says Patrick Dalessandro, director of client strategy at JGA, a brand strategy and retail design firm.

The fulfillment center jobs involve warehouse merchandise picking, packing and shipping. The Seattle company also will be offering those full-time employees stock grants.

In addition to stock grants, Amazon is offering to pay up to 95% of tuition to eligible employees, even if the educational experience is not relevant to careers at Amazon. The past year has seen Amazon open eight U.S. fulfillment centers, adding thousand of new jobs.

Fulfillment jobs are now available in California, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Kentucky, Indianapolis, Delaware, Arizona and South Carolina.