In the United Kingdom, Amazon said today that it will create more than 4,000 permanent jobs by 2022, defying a wave of layoffs in tech.
There will be roles in software development, product management, engineering, as well as operational duties at fulfillment centers, sort centers, and delivery stations.
In northern England, two new Amazon fulfillment centers will be opened in Wakefield and Knowsley, where the firm will add new staff in the near future.
In Britain, Amazon’s permanent workforce will increase to over 75,000 after the hiring drive, the company said.
“We’re continuing to invest in talent right across the U.K.,” John Boumphrey (Amazon’s UK Manager) said in a press release.
“People join us not just for the wide variety of roles, great pay and benefits, but for the career development opportunities we provide.”
Compared to other parts of the tech industry, the company has made a lot of hiring in the U.K. The sector is going through some hard times lately: inflation and interest rates are on the rise, and things aren’t looking bright.
In anticipation of slowing economic growth, large firms like Microsoft, Netflix, and Robinhood have cut varying numbers of jobs.
Amazon’s hiring surged during the Covid pandemic, as stay-at-home restrictions boosted e-commerce sales. During a recent earnings call, company CFO Brian Olsavsky said that the firm became “overstaffed” due to Covid hiring spree.
Amazon has been under fire in the past over how it treats its workers. Delivery drivers and warehouse employees, for example, have complained of unpleasant working conditions, and it has been questioned how safe the workplace is.
In response to the situation, Amazon has stated that it is working to improve the situation and is investing billions of dollars in new safety measures and technologies.
Amazon warehouse workers in Staten Island made history in April by voting to unionize – the first time in U.S. history.
