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Here's who’s hiring as the economy reopens and jobless Americans go on the hunt

Stephanie Asymkos
·Reporter
·6 min read

As states open up their economies, workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic and ensuing shutdowns are on the hunt again.

In May, the economy added 2.5 million jobs — surprising economists — while the unemployment rate fell to 13.3% from 14.7% in April. Still, 20.5 million people remain jobless, per the May jobs report from the Labor Department.

Read more: Unemployment insurance: What it is and how to get it

The good news for job hunters: Not every sector is struggling and those who were recently laid off may be able to find work to meet the growing demand in certain industries. Some companies have such a need for workers that they are forgoing background checks and hiring qualified candidates on the spot.

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Here’s where to look.

The economy added 2.5 million jobs in May and the unemployment rate dipped to 13.3%.
The economy added 2.5 million jobs in May and the unemployment rate dipped to 13.3%. (Credit: David Foster/Yahoo Finance)

Retailers and pharmacies

  • 7-11 announced plans to hire over 20,000 new store employees to meet the increased demand.

  • Amazon is hiring 175,000 full- and part-time employees for positions with Amazon Go stores, Prime Now, Whole Foods stores, Amazon warehouses, and delivery drivers with many jobs advertised earning $17 an hour or more.

  • Costco is looking to hire hourly workers in its warehouses.

  • CVS is adding 50,000 full- and part-time positions across the country to meet the growing demand in retail stores and warehouses as well as customer service representatives. Licensed pharmacy technicians, nurses, and pharmacists are also in demand.

  • Dollar General has nearly 50,000 open positions across the country. For now, the roles will be for temporary employees in retail stores and warehouses.

  • Home improvement retailer Lowe’s is hiring 30,000 workers.

  • Walmart is hiring 150,000 additional employees through the end of May. The need is greatest in Walmart and Sam’s Clubs stores and distribution centers.

  • Walgreens is looking to fill full- and part-time roles in its 9,500 stores, with an emphasis on pharmacy technicians, shift leads, and customer service associates.

  • AutoZone plans to hire 17,000 workers.

  • Ace Hardware is hiring 30,000 people to work in its stores.

  • The Home Depot is hiring people for more than 22,000 jobs.

  • Office supply store Staples is adding 2,700 additional employees across its stores.

  • Rite Aid announced the addition of 5,000 new jobs.

  • Target is hiring over 9,000 employees with emphasis placed on hiring seasonal workers, store leaders, and security officers.

An employee collects items ordered by Amazon.com customers through the company's two-hour delivery service Prime Now in a warehouse in San Francisco, California, U.S., December 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin
An employee collects items ordered by Amazon.com customers through the company's two-hour delivery service Prime Now in a warehouse in San Francisco, California. (Photo: REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin)

Grocery stores

  • Aldi is hiring nearly 5,000 temporary, part-time, and full-time workers in its stores and warehouses.

  • H-E-B, Central Market and Joe V’s Smart Shop is hiring additional employees for eight-week assignments in its stores and warehouses.

  • The Kroger Family of Companies is hiring more than 20,000 open positions at Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Smith’s, Food 4 Less, Pick 'n Save, and more. Applicants are needed to fulfill online grocery orders, pharmacy technicians, grocery cashiers, and product stockers.

  • Meijer, the Midwest grocer, is hiring over 1,200 seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees.

  • Publix is in critical need of pharmacy technicians at its southeast locations.

  • Safeway is hiring over 1,600 additional workers.

  • ShopRite is hiring across its stores in the Mid-Atlantic.

  • Trader Joe’s is adding temporary and open-ended crew members to its stores across the country.

  • Albertsons Companies includes grocers Vons, Acme, and Albertsons, will hire 50,000 people across its brands.

Education

With the sudden influx of students who are now homeschooled and distance learning, the demand for online educators is high. The following companies are hiring certified teachers and non-certified tutors.

Financial Services

  • Fidelity Investments is hiring approximately 2,000 workers for in-person and remote work to aid clients during this challenging economic time. The company is expeditiously looking to hire recent graduates, licensed professionals, and technology engineers.

Oslo, Norway - July 26, 2015: People buying food at Pizza Hut Express, Oslo Airport
Pizza Hut announced it will hire an additional 30,000 employees, including cooks, managers, and shift leaders. (Photo: Getty)

Food service

  • Domino’s is hiring thousands of workers — 1,000 in Chicago alone — to keep up with the increased demand. Positions like delivery drivers, customer service representatives, assistant managers, and managers are needed.

  • Hungry Howie’s is hiring 2,000 delivery drivers across all its 550 locations. Drivers can make up to $15 per hour.

  • Papa John’s will hire 20,000 additional employees and, in most cases, the company says hiring will happen on the spot.

  • Pizza Hut announced it will hire an additional 30,000 employees. Open positions include cooks, managers, and shift leaders.

  • Taco Bell is hiring 30,000 workers for its restaurants.

  • McDonald’s announced its plans to hire 260,000 employees.

  • Dunkin’ plans to hire 25,000 new employees.

  • The Cheesecake Factory is looking to hire 1,200 employees for barista, server, cook, and host or hostess roles.

Davis, CA, USA 03/20/2019 - UPS delivery vehicle and busy worker in the city of Davis, CA. UPS is one of the largest package company headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia.
UPS delivery vehicle and busy worker in the city of Davis, CA. (Photo: Getty)

Delivery, shipping, and freight

  • Instacart is expanding its network of personal shoppers by 300,000 in the next three months.

  • goPuff, a digital convenience delivery service, is hiring thousands of driver partners and field employees.

  • Lineage Logistics, a food supply chain, is hiring additional workers to meet the increased need.

  • Shipt, a delivery service for groceries and household items, is expanding its network of personal shoppers. Contractors set their own schedules and make an average of $22 per hour.

  • UPS has almost 1,000 part- and full-time roles open for warehouse workers, drivers, and package handlers.

  • FedEx plans to hire 35,000 new employees like warehouse workers, package handlers, and operations managers.

Technology

  • Remote conferencing and telework has boosted the demand for employees at Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack.

  • Quicken Loans is hiring sales, marketing, human resources, engineering professionals and more. With 98% of the company working remotely, Quicken Loans can virtually onboard new hires who will work from home.

  • Consulting company Booz Allen Hamilton is hiring 2,500 employees.

  • Facebook announced plans to hire an additional 10,000 employees across its U.S. campuses.

Manufacturing

Stephanie is a reporter for Yahoo Money and Cashay, a new personal finance website. Follow her on Twitter @SJAsymkos.

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