Houston companies adding holiday staff
’Tis the season to be hired. Companies are hiring thousands of seasonal workers in the Houston area in anticipation of a holiday season expected to be marked by a rise in online shopping.
Shoppers may cut back on trips to stores to avoid exposure to the coronavirus, but they’re letting their fingers do the shopping. Ecommerce sales are projected to grow by more than 40 percent year over year in November and December, according to a holiday retail report fromcommercial real estate firm CBRE.
To keep pace with demand, brick-and-mortar retailers, online retailers and the companies that deliver the goods are stocking up on seasonal help.
Amazon is hiring 2,800 seasonal workers in Houston as part of a national plan to fill 100,000 seasonal positions. Separately, the ecommerce giant also expects to fill more than 3,000 positions at its new sort center in Katy. The seasonal jobs are on top of 100,000 permanent positions Amazon added beginning in September.
UPS is hiring for 2,995 positions, including driver helpers, package handlers and seasonal drivers, in the Houston area.
Walmart, which has hired 500,000 people since March to
meet increased demand during the pandemic, began filling as many as 20,000 positions in fulfillment centers across the country in September. The jobs will include tasks such as fulfilling orders and operating power equipment. The company did not disclose hiring totals for Houston.
Target, which did not disclose specific hiring plans for Houston, expected seasonal hiring to be on par with last year’s pace of 130,000 team members. The retailer, which said it has received more applications so far this year when compared to last, is adding workers at each store and distribution center in the Houston area, the company said. Target’s hiring strategy focuses on giving current employees opportunities for increased hours and new duties as it navigates the pandemic.
Lowe’s Cos., which has hired more than 155,000 seasonal workers throughout the pandemic, plans to hire 20,000 associates at its U.S. stores and regional distribution centers to meet demand during the holidays and beyond. The home improvement retailer is also adding 2,500 employees at regional distribution centers nationwide. The positions include cashiers, customer service associates, receivers, unloaders, load pullers and sales specialists.