Amazon to hire 50,000 across US as labor market tightens

SEATTLE » Amazon has some job openings. Lots of them.

The company on Wednesday said that it’s looking to fill more than 50,000 positions across the U.S. The announcement comes at a time when the labor market is growing tight with back-to-school and holiday shopping around the corner. Others will be competing for many of those potential hires.

Amazon.com Inc. will open the doors to job seekers on Aug. 2, next Wednesday, at 10 shipping sites. The majority of jobs will be full-time. More than 10,000 part-time jobs will also be available at sorting centers, along with some supporting and managerial positions.

Amazon said in January that it wanted to hire 100,000 full-time workers over the next 18 months. Since that time it’s steadily announced jobs, including plans to add 900 workers in Boston and 1,600 in Michigan.