Amazon announced Tuesday that it is in the process of hiring 125,000 employees across the United States for part-time and full-time jobs in logistics, which is in addition to 40,000 jobs announced earlier this month, Trend reports citing USA Today.
The newly added roles in fulfillment and transportation would have an average wage of of more than $18 per hour.
Salaries will range from Amazon's minimum wage of $15 per hour up to $22.50 per hour, depending on "different competitive sets in the various markets around the country," says David Bozeman, Vice President of Amazon Transportation Services.
Full-time jobs will have health, vision and dental insurance, a 401(k) retirement program and up to 20 weeks paid parental leave and tuition coverage.
"We actually now will be paying for college tuition for those who choose or elect to do so. We also will assist our employees to finish their college, their high school diploma, their GED, English as a second language certificate," says Bozeman.
Certain locations will have hiring bonuses of up to $3,000 in various locations that include Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
New warehouse hires in those locations who show proof of their Covid-19 vaccination can earn an additional $100 bonus their first day.
Amazon's hiring push comes in the midst of a labor shortage, which is causing disruptions to supply chains amid an e-commerce boom.
In the past few years, Amazon warehouses have recently come under fire for unsafe work conditions, with reports from CNBC and The Washington Post revealing that injury rates in Amazon warehouses were higher than other retailers.
When asked by USA TODAY for a response about safety concerns, Bozeman said, "Our employees feel they're safe. I talk to employees all the time, and our working conditions are really good at Amazon, and we also pay good wages."
Attempts to unionize Amazon workforces were recently defeated at a center in Bessemer, Alabama, with a vast majority of workers voting against the creation of a union.
Amazon's business boomed during the pandemic, as more Americans opted to have products delivered to their homes.
Amazon has opened more than 250 new fulfillment centers, sortation centers, regional air hubs and delivery stations in the U.S. this year. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the company has hired more than 450,000 people nationwide.
Job openings will be in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.
Earlier this month, Amazon announced a hiring push for 40,000 corporate and tech jobs in more than 220 locations across the United States.