Published - October 6, 2022 @ 05:07 PM (EET)

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While it has been reported earlier this week that Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is pausing hiring for corporate roles in its retail business, Amazon announced Thursday it is hiring 150,000 employees for the holiday season.

Mainly in line with last year, the new roles will be a mix of full-time- seasonal, and part-time jobs across its operations network, from packing and picking to sorting and shipping.

WHY IT MATTERS

Last year, Amazon hired 150,000 seasonal workers in addition to 40,000 new corporate and tech jobs and 1250,000 full- and part-time fulfillment jobs.

According to a report published by The New York Times Tuesday, Amazon instructed recruiters to close all open job postings for its corporate roles in the coming days and recommended they cancel some recruiting activities.

Since the reopening of the covid-19 pandemic, the growth of the retail business has slowed, and facing this new reality, CEO Andy Jassy told investors the company would prioritize cutting costs and being efficient.

Spokesperson Brad Glasser released a statement to several media.

"Amazon continues to have a significant number of open roles available across the company.  We have many different businesses at various stages of evolution, and expect to keep adjusting our hiring strategies in each of these businesses at various junctures."

NOW WHAT

This year's hiring ahead of the holidays comes just a few days before the company's fall Prime Early Access Sale event. Like its rivals, Amazon has been driving its seasonal deals earlier each year, though this year's push may be driven by the need to reduce excess inventory.

Analyst Rohit Kulkarni at MKM Partners wrote,

"A second Prime Day in 2022 made sense for both Amazon and sellers, as inventories remain a bit fat vs. prior year levels."

Amazon stock dipped 0.4% in premarket trading Thursday to $120.53.  The stock has lost 28% this year.