UPS hiring more than 100,000 for holidays

The holidays are expected to bring an even bigger surge in volume than normal as more consumers have shifted to online shopping due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The company says about 35% of its past seasonal hires were offered permanent jobs.

Last year, Sandy Springs-based UPS also hired about 100,000 seasonal workers for the peak holiday shipping season.

“At a time when millions of Americans are looking for work, these jobs are an opportunity to start a new career with UPS,” said UPS chief human resources officer Charlene Thomas in a written statement.

The seasonal openings include full-time and part-time positions for package handlers, drivers, driver-helpers and personal vehicle drivers across the country.

UPS also has a program allowing seasonal workers to earn up to $1,300 toward college expenses in addition to their hourly pay.

People interested in positions with UPS can apply at www.ups.jobs.com.

UPS, FedEx Corp. and other couriers have been inundated with residential demand since the virus took hold in the U.S., while business deliveries have suffered because of the lockdowns. Now, most state economies are reopening and the return of commercial demand coupled with the surge in holiday online shopping promises to make this year the busiest ever for couriers.

FedEx last week announced it plans to hire about 75,000 workers, a 27% increase from a year ago. The company also moved up its prediction for the U.S. package market to reach 100 million daily deliveries by three years to 2023.

— Reporting from Bloomberg was included in this article.