UPS looks to hire 10,000 locally
Move part of bigger push to hire 100,000 nationwide ahead of the holiday rush
UPS is hiring nearly 10,000 Southern California workers ahead of the holiday season, and 80% of the jobs won't require an interview.
The hires are part of a bigger push by UPS to bring on 100,000 seasonal employees nationwide to meet the anticipated increase in package volume.
The hiring comes against the backdrop of a new labor contract for 340,000 Teamsters-represented drivers who now will earn an average of $170,000 in annual pay and benefits at the end of the five-year agreement.
The newly announced fulland part-time positions — primarily seasonal delivery drivers, commercial driver's license drivers and package handlers, along with some warehouse workers — are available with multiple shifts.
Permanent positions are available in some areas for applicants who apply early, the company said.
Seasonal hourly pay rates begin at $21 for package handlers and driver helpers, while drivers earn a starting wage of $23 an hour.
UPS said its digital application process is fast and easy, taking about 20 minutes from filling out an online application to receiving a job offer. Job seekers can learn more at upsjobs.com.
The company said an estimated 50,000 seasonal employees earned permanent positions with UPS over the past two years.
The hiring spree comes on the heels of last week's announcement that Amazon is adding 16,000 workers to its Southern California warehouse network as part of a seasonal push to fill 250,000 jobs nationwide ahead of the holiday shopping season.
Hiring appears robust, but a recent report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas notes that U.S. retailers announced 55,755 job cuts through August 2023, a 524% increase from 8,940 retail cuts announced through August 2022.
“As the 2023 holiday season kicks off, the labor market is starting to cool and employers are hiring at a slower clip,” the report said. “As labor costs and interest rates rise, seasonal employers may rein in their typical hiring sprees, as both consumers and employers feel the crunch.”
Retailers are expected to add just 410,000 seasonal positions for this year's holiday shopping season, the lowest number since 2008, according to Challenger
Last year, U.S. retailers added 509,300 seasonal jobs, and in 2021 about 701,400 seasonal positions were filled.
“Seasonal employers have a few issues to grapple with in the coming months,” Challenger said. “One is the cost of labor, limiting the desire to add workers. Another is whether consumers continue to spend at the same clip. Another is one that has been fairly constant since the pandemic — can they attract workers?”
Organized retail theft is another challenge.
Target is closing nine stores in major cities across four states, claiming theft and organized retail crime have made the environment unsafe for staff and customers.
“We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance,” Target said in a statement. “We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all.”