FILE - This Monday, July 8, 2019 file photo shows the Amazon Fulfillment warehouse in Shakopee, Minn. Amazon is on the hunt for workers. The online shopping giant is looking to fill more than 30,000 vacant jobs by early next year, and is holding job fairs across the country next week to find candidates. The job fairs will take place Sept. 17, 2019 in six U.S. cities: Arlington, Virginia; Boston; Chicago; Dallas, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Seattle.
Jim Mone / AP Photo
Jim Mone / AP Photo
FILE - This Monday, July 8, 2019 file photo shows the Amazon Fulfillment warehouse in Shakopee, Minn. Amazon is on the hunt for workers. The online shopping giant is looking to fill more than 30,000 vacant jobs by early next year, and is holding job fairs across the country next week to find candidates. The job fairs will take place Sept. 17, 2019 in six U.S. cities: Arlington, Virginia; Boston; Chicago; Dallas, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Seattle.
(Harrisburg) — Warehousing companies planned to hire about 50,000 order pickers, packagers, and truck loaders for the holiday season, according to an analysis from ZipRecruiter. The hiring website ranked warehouse worker as one of its top ten temporary jobs this season.
The midstate is a hot spot for warehouse jobs because of lower labor and land costs than neighboring states and it’s close to major population centers.
There are dozens of fulfillment centers in central Pennsylvania, including several that belong to Amazon.
Laura Potthoff, who directs workforce development at the Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation, said there are not enough people in the county to fill all the warehousing jobs there.
“These aren’t the sexiest jobs, but they’re needed,” Potthoff said. “And as e-commerce continues to climb and everybody wants their products yesterday, there’s going to be a growing need for these types of jobs and these people to get them there.”
Wages can range from $13-20 an hour.
“The wages are climbing as the seasonal work ramps up and this is a way that, I believe, the warehouses get to pull people in that wouldn’t typically work these jobs that are looking for extra money over the wintertime,” Potthoff said.
Robert Novack, a professor of business logistics at Penn State, said a typical warehouse can employ 500 people full-time and can double capacity with temporary workers during the holidays.
He added warehouse jobs take more training than other seasonal work, such as retail, and that training can make temporary workers more competitive when looking for full-time work later.
Because warehouse work is very physical, the industry has a high turnover rate.
Potthoff said she’s found workplace culture is key in retaining workers in these environments.
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