Target Hiring 130,000-Plus Seasonal Staff Members, UPS Hiring 100,000
Black Friday Target shoppers. ( Photo by : By Eric Broder Van Dyke)

Target Hiring 130,000-Plus Seasonal Staff Members, UPS Hiring 100,000

The busy retail season has begun, with Minneapolis-based Target and UPS announcing their seasonal hiring plans. Target’s seasonal staff will be larger than 2018, following two strong 2019 quarters.

The holiday hustle has begun, as both Target and UPS have announced their hiring plans for the season. Target said on Tuesday that it will be hiring more than 130,000 seasonal team members nationwide. UPS will hire 100,000 seasonal employees nationwide.

Target’s seasonal staff positions will range from behind the scenes management and customer service roles in stores, to distribution center roles, and more. The majority—125,000—will be in-store, though, with wages starting at $13 an hour, according to a company release.

The release didn’t specify wages for the roles across its 39 distribution centers, but did say about 8,000 will be needed for such tasks.

All seasonal employees receive the same benefits including a 10 percent Target discount, an additional 20 percent wellness discount off fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, holiday pay for Thanksgiving and Christmas shifts, and flexible schedules.

The Minneapolis-based retail giant is also bringing back for the second year its work.win.give program, through which two hourly team members at each store, distribution, and fulfillment centers will be randomly selected for a $250 Target gift card and $250 donation to their choice of a local charitable organization.

Expecting even better holiday sales than in 2018, following a strong financial second quarter, Target’s 2019 holiday hiring plans exceed last year’s by about 10,000.

Meanwhile, UPS’ plan is on par with its count last year.  

UPS, also headquartered in Minneapolis, noted that it will hire more than 190 seasonal employees in the Minneapolis area alone to support the anticipated increase in package volume the company expects to see from November through January.

“We expect another record peak season this year, with daily package deliveries nearly doubling compared to our average of 20 million per day,” said Jim Barber, chief operating officer for UPS, in a press release. 

That’s why the recruiting has already begun, he says, and why the number is as high as it is.

Seasonal opportunities at UPS include both full and part time jobs—primarily package handlers, drivers, and driver-helpers. Driver jobs start at $21 an hour, and all seasonal employees who are students are eligible for the company’s Earn and Learn program, which allows staff to earn up to $1,300 toward college expenses, in addition to their hourly pay, for three months of continuous employment.

UPS has opened up online applications for four of its Minnesota locations: 3312 Broadway Street NE in Minneapolis, 8501 Valley Forge Lane in Maple Grove, 555 Opperman Drive in Eagan, and MN 901 Canterbury Road in Shakopee.

Target’s seasonal staff applications are open as well, with a full list of positions available on its site. The retailer will also hold in-person hiring events at every store October 11-13 and November 2-3 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

“We’re so excited to start welcoming our new seasonal hires and give them opportunities to train and prepare with the rest of our team as we head into the busy holiday season,” said Melissa Kremer, Target’s chief human resources officer, in a statement. “Getting an early start with those preparations made a big difference for us last year, and it’s a great way to get the entire Target team pumped up for the most fun and exciting time of the year.”