Boston’s Holiday Hiring Rush: Amazon Targets 3,000 Local Jobs, Target Adds 1,900
Two of the largest employers are setting an average of about $20 an hour for seasonal work in Greater Boston. Here is what that means for local shops.
The holiday season in Boston starts in the warehouse.
Amazon plans to hire about 6,000 seasonal workers in Massachusetts this year, around 3,000 of them in Greater Boston, as part of more than 300,000 hires nationwide. Target is adding about 1,900 seasonal team members across the Boston area.
The going rate
Amazon says its seasonal pay averages about $20 an hour, and seasonal staff working at least 30 hours a week become eligible for health coverage starting Jan. 1. Openings are being posted on a rolling basis through December, and many seasonal roles can turn into permanent jobs.
The ripple effect on Main Street
For independent retailers, restaurants and service businesses, the biggest employers’ rates become everyone’s benchmark. Owners hiring for the season should expect applicants to compare offers on pay, and also on schedule flexibility and the chance at a permanent role, where small employers can often compete better than on wages alone.
Boston Made will keep tracking holiday hiring and wages across Greater Boston through the end of the year.
Sources: Boston.com. Reported and written by the Ecosystem Intelligence Desk.
