Business

How Many Employees Does Amazon Have?

Amazon places the customer at the core of its operations. The company fosters a culture where dedicated individuals passionately innovate to meet customer needs. Amazon has generated the largest number of U.S. jobs over the past decade, with an average wage of $19 per hour – more than double the federal minimum wage. The company is committed to the growth and advancement of its employees, investing over $1.2 billion in free skills training. This investment enables employees to excel in tech and high-demand fields like cloud computing, empowering them to progress in their careers.

Amazon was established by Jeff Bezos in Bellevue, Washington, on July 5, 1994. The organization began as an online book marketplace but extended to selling hardware, programming, computer games, clothing, furniture, food, toys, and gems. In 2015, by market capitalization, Amazon outperformed Walmart as the most significant retailer in the United States. In 2017, Amazon procured Whole Foods Market for US $13.4 billion, which generously expanded its impression as an actual retailer. Moreover, in 2018, its two-day conveyance administration, Amazon Prime, outperformed 100 million subscribers worldwide.

The organization has been scrutinized for different works, including mechanical reconnaissance overextending, a hyper-serious and demanding work culture, tax avoidance, and anti-competitive. However, there are still millions of Amazon employees globally. So, exactly how many employees does Amazon have? Continue reading to find out more.

History

Jeff Bezos founded Amazon on July 5, 1994, driven by the abundance of technical talent in the Seattle area where Microsoft was located. The company went public in May 1997 and soon expanded its offerings to include music and videos. It embarked on international operations, acquiring online booksellers in the United Kingdom and Germany. Subsequently, Amazon broadened its product range to encompass music, video games, consumer electronics, home improvement items, software, games, and toys.

In 2002, Amazon made a significant move by launching Amazon Web Services (AWS), initially providing APIs for web developers to build applications for the Amazon e-commerce platform. Over time, AWS expanded its services to include website popularity statistics and web crawler data through the Alexa Web Information Service. It further evolved to offer enterprise services, such as Simple Storage Service (S3) in 2006 and Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) in 2008. These services allowed businesses to rent data storage and computing power from Amazon. In 2006, Amazon also used Amazon’s warehouse and fulfillment infrastructure to sell products.

history of Amazon

Image Source: EcomCrew

In 2017, Amazon made a notable acquisition by purchasing the Whole Foods Market supermarket chain. As of 2017, Amazon became the leading e-retailer in the United States, with approximately $178 billion in net sales and a customer base of over 300 million active accounts worldwide.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon experienced significant growth and hired over 100,000 staff in the US and Canada. However, there were protests by Amazon workers in the US, France, and Italy, expressing concerns about workplace safety during the pandemic. Legal complaints and issues over policies also arose in Spain. In response to these challenges, Amazon faced scrutiny and criticism from various quarters.

On February 2, 2021, Jeff Bezos announced his decision to step down as CEO and transition to the role of executive chair of Amazon’s board. This transition officially took place on July 5, 2021, with Andy Jassy, the former CEO of AWS, assuming the position of CEO. In January 2023, Amazon implemented a cost-cutting measure by cutting over 18,000 jobs, primarily in consumer retail and the human resources division.

Products and Services

Amazon.com, an e-commerce platform, offers a wide range of products for sale. They include media (books, movies, music, software), apparel, electronics, baby products, beauty items, groceries, and more. Amazon operates country-specific websites like amazon.com (US) and amazon.fr (France), with some offering international shipping.

Over the years, amazon.com has experienced significant growth, with monthly visits surpassing 2 billion in 2022. It ranks as the 14th most visited website globally. Promotional fees influence the search results on Amazon.

Each Amazon storefront has its selection and pricing, distinguished by the top-level domain and country code.

products and services offered by Amazon

Merchant partnership

Amazon has formed several key partnerships to enhance its offerings. In 2000, they collaborated with Toys “R” Us, but a legal dispute led to independent ventures. Borders Group also had a short-lived agreement. Partnerships with DC Comics and the United States Postal Service followed. Nike initially joined forces but later ended the collaboration due to challenges. IKEA and Birkenstock made similar decisions. In 2017 Amazon partnered with JV Appario Retail and expanded services like AmazonFresh. Additionally, authorized resellers can sell Apple products through Amazon from 2018. These partnerships have fueled Amazon’s growth and product diversity.

Private-label products

Amazon offers branded products, including phone chargers, batteries, and diaper wipes, under names like AmazonBasics. They own 34 private label brands, accounting for 0.15% of global sales. Other brands include Presto!, Mama Bear, and Amazon Essentials.

Third-party sellers

Around 40% of Amazon’s sales come from third-party sellers who use the platform to sell their products. This includes both new and used goods, with sales processed through Amazon.com. Amazon Marketplace is popular among sellers, and Amazon leases space for retailers.

Affiliate Program

Publishers can join the Amazon affiliate program and earn commissions by referring customers through website links. Over 900,000 members participate worldwide. The program is widely used, ranking second to Google Ads. Websites and non-profits commonly employ it to generate commissions.

Associates can access Amazon’s catalog using the Amazon Web Services (AWS) XML service, and the aStore allows the embedding of Amazon products on other websites. Seller Product Suggestions recommend specific products based on customers’ browsing history, enhancing transparency for third-party sellers.

Product reviews

Users can submit reviews for each product on Amazon’s web page, rating it on a scale of one to five stars. Reviewers can receive a badge indicating their real name or top reviewer status. As of December 2020, Amazon removed the ability to comment on reviews. Reviews deemed helpful appear on the product’s front page. Amazon is a major source of Internet consumer reviews.

Amazon sales rank

The Amazon sales rank (ASR) shows a product’s popularity on any Amazon site and is updated hourly. While it doesn’t directly impact sales, it determines best-selling list inclusion. High jumps in rank can result in “movers and shakers” exposure, boosting sales. Amazon keeps actual sales figures confidential but provides data to verified authors through Nielsen BookScan. The ASR calculator algorithm remains undisclosed by Amazon.

Physical stores

In 2015, Amazon opened its first physical bookstore in Seattle, offering products at online prices. By 2017, Amazon had opened ten bookstores, with plans for hundreds more nationwide. In 2018, reports suggested Amazon’s expansion into brick-and-mortar bookstores in Germany. In 2019, Amazon also applied to establish a liquor store in San Francisco for local alcohol shipping. Amazon Fresh also launched physical stores in the U.S. and the UK in 2020.

Hardware and services

Amazon offers various products and services, including Alexa, a digital assistant; Amazon Music and Prime Video for music and video streaming; the Amazon Appstore for Android apps; and the Kindle line of e-readers and tablets. Audible provides audiobooks for purchase and listening. In 2021, Amazon introduced Astro, a household robot controlled by Alexa, capable of remote monitoring and notifications. In 2023, Amazon launched RXPass, a prescription drug delivery service exclusive to U.S. Amazon Prime members, offering access to a range of medications for a monthly fee, with some restrictions on government healthcare program beneficiaries.

Subsidiaries

Amazon owns over 40 subsidiaries, including Amazon Web Services, Audible, Diapers.com, Goodreads, IMDDb, Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics), Shopbop, TeachStreet, Twitch, Zappos, and Zoox.

  • Amazon Web Services: AWS is a subsidiary that offers cloud computing that offers cloud computing platforms and APIs on a pay-as-you-go basis. AWS provides distributed computing processing capacity and software tools through server farms. As of Q4 2021, AWS holds a 33% market share for cloud infrastructure, surpassing competitors Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.
  • Audible: Audible is an internet-based best seller and producer of spoken audio entertainment, including audiobooks, radio programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers. In 2008, Amazon acquired Audible for approximately $300 million. Making it a subsidiary.
  • Goodreads: A social catalog website that allows users to search for books, read reviews, create reading lists, and participate in book discussions. Amazon acquired Goodreads in 2013, expanding its presence in the book-related online community.
  • Ring: is a home automation company known for its smart doorbells and security cameras. Founded in 2013, Amazon acquired Ring in 2018 for $1 billion.
  • Twitch: Twitch is a live-streaming platform focused on video game content. Amazon acquired Twitch in August 2014 for $970 million. The platform gained popularity through esports competitions and had over 5 million broadcasters and 100 million monthly viewers as of 2015.
  • Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods Market is a supermarket chain specializing in natural and organic foods. Amazon acquired Whole Foods for $13.7 billion in August 2017. Whole Foods offers products free from artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats.

Other services

Amazon has various subsidiaries, including:

  • com, which focuses on innovative technology, has been a subsidiary since 2003.
  • Amazon Maritime, Inc., holds a license to operate as a non-vessel-owning common carrier (NVOCC) and manages shipments from China to the US.
  • Amazon Pharmacy, an online delivery service for prescription drugs, launched in 2020. It offers discounts for Prime subscribers and can be accessed on the website or at physical pharmacies.
  • Annapurna Labs, an Israeli microelectronics company acquired by Amazon Web Services in 2015.
  • Beijing Century Joyo Courier Services is expanding logistics in trucking and air freight.
  • Brilliance Audio, an audiobook publisher acquired by Amazon in 2007.
  • ComiXology, a digital comics platform acquired by Amazon in 2014.
  • CreateSpace is a self-publishing service for content creators, publishers, and media companies.
  • Eero, an electronics company specializing in mesh-networking WiFi devices acquired by Amazon in 2019.
  • Health Navigator, a startup developing health service APIs, was acquired by Amazon in 2019.
  • Junglee, is an Indian online shopping service acquired by Amazon in 1998.
  • Kuiper Systems, a subsidiary for deploying a broadband satellite internet constellation.
  • Lab126 is a subsidiary responsible for developing consumer electronics like the Kindle.
  • Shelfari, a former social cataloging website for books acquired by Amazon in 2008.
  • com, a leading e-commerce platform in the Arab world acquired by Amazon in 2017 and rebranded as Amazon.
  • Amazon has investments in renewable energy and plans to expand into the Canadian market with a new plant in Alberta.

How many employees does Amazon have in 2023?

As Amazon expands its operations worldwide, its workforce has grown significantly. Let’s delve into the details.

How many employees does Amazon have in 2023

Image Source: NBC News

How many people work for Amazon in 2023?

Based on Amazon’s most recent Annual Report, the company employs around 1,541,000 individuals full-time and part-time.

Historical Amazon employee figures (Yearly)

Over the past 15 years, Amazon employees have consistently risen, and the growth rate has accelerated.

  • From 2007 to 2012, the workforce increased by 71,400
  • Between 2012 and 2017, Amazon saw a surge of 477,600 new hires.
  • Between 2017 and 2022, the number of employees further climbed to 975,000.
  • Remarkably, there was only one instance of a decrease in Amazon’s employee count since 2007. In 2021, the company employed approximately 1,608,000 people, 67,000 fewer than the previous year’s total (1,541,000).
  • For 15 years, Amazon has experienced a staggering growth rate expanding its workforce by over 90 times since 2007 (with an initial count of 000 employees)

Here’s a breakdown of the number of employees at Amazon over time:

Year Amazon Employees Change Over the Previous Year Change Over Previous Year (%)
2007 17,000
2008 20,700 ↑ 2,300 ↑ 21.76%
2009 24,300 ↑ 3,600 ↑ 17.39%
2010 33,700 ↑ 9,400 ↑ 38.68%
2011 56,200 ↑ 22,500 ↑ 66.77%
2012 88,400 ↑ 32,200 ↑ 57.3%
2013 117,300 ↑ 28,900 ↑ 32.69%
2014 154,100 ↑ 36,800 ↑ 31.37%
2015 230,800 ↑ 76,700 ↑ 49.77%
2016 341,400 ↑ 110,600 ↑ 47.92%
2017 566,000 ↑ 224,600 ↑ 65.79%
2018 647,500 ↑ 81,500 ↑ 14.4%
2019 798,000 ↑ 140,500 ↑ 23.24%
2020 1,298,000 ↑ 500,000 ↑ 62.66%
2021 1,608,000 ↑ 310,000 ↑ 23.88%
2022 1,541,000 ↓ 67,000 ↓ 4.17%
2023 1,465,000 ↓ 76,000 ↓ 4.93%

*Source: Amazon

Amazon’s monthly employee figures

Tracking the number of Amazon employees every month reveals a consistent upward trend.

During the analysis period from Q1 2018 to Q4 2022, Amazon experienced a decrease in its workforce in only four out of nineteen quarters. Among the significant fluctuations in employee numbers observed during this timeframe, the following three changes stand out:

  • The second quarter of 2020 to the third quarter of 2020 witnessed an increase of 248,500
  • The third quarter of 2020 witnessed an increase of 248,500
  • From the third quarter of 2020 to the fourth quarter of 2020, there was a rise of 172,700
  • The fourth quarter of 2021 saw a growth of 140,000 employees compared to the third quarter of 2021.

Below you’ll find a detailed breakdown of Amazon’s quarterly employment figures:

Quarter Amazon Employees Change Over the Previous Year Change Over Previous Year (%)
Q1 2018 563,100
Q2 2018 575,700 ↑ 12,600 ↑ 2.24%
Q3 2018 613,300 ↑ 37,600 ↑ 6.53%
Q4 2018 647,500 ↑ 34,200 ↑ 5.58%
Q1 2019 630,600 ↓ 16,900 ↓ 2.61%
Q2 2019 653,300 ↑ 22,700 ↑ 3.6%
Q3 2019 750,000 ↑ 96,700 ↑ 14.8%
Q4 2019 798,000 ↑ 48,000 ↑ 6.4%
Q1 2020 840,400 ↑ 42,400 ↑ 5.31%
Q2 2020 876,800 ↑ 36,400 ↑ 4.33%
Q3 2020 1,125,300 ↑ 248,500 ↑ 28.34%
Q4 2020 1,298,000 ↑ 172,700 ↑ 15.35%
Q1 2021 1,271,000 ↓ 27,000 ↓ 2.08%
Q2 2021 1,335,000 ↑ 64,000 ↑ 5.04%
Q3 2021 1,468,000 ↑ 133,000 ↑ 9.96%
Q4 2021 1,608,000 ↑ 140,000 ↑ 9.54%
Q1 2022 1,622,000 ↑ 14,000 ↑ 0.87
Q2 2022 1,523,000 ↓ 99,000 ↓ 6.1%
Q3 2022 1,544,000 ↑ 21,000 ↑ 1.38%
Q4 2022 1,541,000 ↓ 3,000 ↓ 0.19%

*Source: Amazon

Amazon employees, in terms of gender

The most recent data indicates that the distribution of gender within Amazon’s workforce is becoming more balanced over time.

As of 2021, approximately 55.2% of Amazon employees identified as male, while 44.8% identified as female. There has been a noticeable change in the gender distribution of Amazon’s workforce compared to the figures from 2018, which showed a split of 58.1% male and 41.9% female.

Let’s take a closer look at the historical trend of Amazon’s workforce composition of gender:

Year Male Change Over Year Female Change Over Year
2018 58.1% 41.9%
2019 57.3% ↓ 0.8% 42.7% ↑ 0.8%
2020 55.4% ↓ 1.9% 44.6% ↑ 1.9%
2021 55.2% ↓ 0.2% 44.8% ↑ 0.2%

Source: Amazon

When examining Amazon’s workforce in the United States, the gender split becomes even more equitable.

As of 2021, approximately 53% of Amazon employees in the US identified as male, while 47% identified as female. Here is the comprehensive breakdown of Amazon’s employee gender distribution in the US:

Year Male Change Over Year Female Change Over Year
2018 55.5% 44.5%
2019 54.6% ↓ 0.9% 45.4% ↑ 0.9%
2020 53.1% ↓ 1.5% 46.9% ↑ 1.5%
2021 53% ↓ 0.1% 47% ↑ 0.1%

Source: Amazon

Amazon employees, in terms of ethnicity

Examining Amazon’s workforce by ethnicity reveals some noteworthy trends. Currently, approximately 30.2% of Amazon employees identify as white, and this percentage has been gradually decreasing over the years. In contrast, the representation of Black employees has been increasing and stands at 28.2%, while LatinX employees have also seen a rise and account for 23.6% of Amazon’s workforce.

To gain a comprehensive understanding, let’s delve into the detailed breakdown of Amazon employees by ethnicity over time:

Year White Black Latinx Asian Multiracial Native American
2018 38.4% 24.8% 17.3% 14.6% 3.7% 1.3%
2019 34.6% 26.4% 18.6% 15.4% 3.6% 1.3%
2020 32.1% 26.5% 22.8% 13.6% 3.6% 1.5%
2021 30.2% 28.2% 23.6% 13.2% 3.3% 1.5%

Source: Amazon

Let’s examine how the composition of Amazon’s workforce has evolved from 2018 to 2021:

  White Black Latinx Asian Multiracial Native American
Change ↓ 8.2% ↑ 3.4% ↑ 6.3% ↓ 1.4% ↓ 0.4% ↑ 0.2%

Source: Amazon

Amazon employees in terms of roles

The distribution of gender and ethnicity within different job roles at Amazon varies significantly.

In senior leadership positions, males comprise a majority, accounting for 76.9% of the workforce; additionally, approximately 66.4% of senior leaders identify as white.

On the other hand, in the field of customer support, there is a more balanced gender distribution, with males representing 51.7% of the workforce. Moreover, the gap narrows between the representation of Black (32.7%), LatinX (27.2%), and White (26.7%) employees in this particular area.

Amazon employees in terms of roles

Image Source: About Amazon

To provide a comprehensive overview, here is the complete data regarding the distribution of Amazon’s workforce by role. Gender and ethnicity:

  Workforce Avg. Field & Customer Support Corporate Employees People Managers Senior Leaders
Male 55.2% 51.7% 67.2% 69.2% 76.9%
Female 44.8% 48.3% 32.8% 30.8% 23.1%
White 30.2% 26.7% 44.6% 53.1% 66.4%
Black 28.2% 32.7% 8.5% 12% 5.5%
LatinX 23.6% 27.2% 8.7% 10.9% 4.5%
Asian 13.2% 8.2% 34.4% 19.9% 21.5%
Multiracial 3.3% 3.3% 3.2% 3.3% 1.8%
Native American 1.5% 1.7% 0.6% 0.7% 0.2%

Source: Amazon

The entire outlook of roles of employees has changed in a span of a few years. The following table gives a basic look into it.

Change Workforce Avg. Field & Customer Support Corporate Employees People Managers Senior Leaders
Male ↓ 2.9% ↓ 1.5% ↓ 3.2% ↓ 3.5% ↓ 3.1%
Female ↑ 2.9% ↑ 1.5% ↑ 3.2% ↑ 3.5% ↑ 3.1%
White ↓ 8.2% ↓ 7.2% ↓ 6.1% ↓ 8% ↓ 7.9%
Black ↑ 3.4% ↑ 1.1% ↑ 3.6% ↑ 4.8%
LatinX ↑ 6.3% ↑ 6% ↑ 2.6% ↑ 3.4%
Asian ↓ 1.4% ↑ 0.7% ↓ 0.6% ↓ 0.7%
Multiracial ↓ 0.4% ↓ 0.7% ↑ 0.2% ↑ 0.3%
Native American ↑ 0.2% ↑ 0.2% ↑ 0.1% ↑ 0.1%

Source: Amazon

Amazon employees, in terms of age

As per Zippia, the typical age range of employees at Amazon is between 20 and 30 years old. More than half, 54% of all Amazon employees, fall within this age group.

On the other hand, only a small percentage of Amazon workers, specifically 17%, are over 40 years old.

In short, most of Amazon’s workforce comprises employees in their twenties and thirties, while a smaller proportion comprises individuals over 40. The following table gives a deeper insight into these stats.

Age Group The proportion of Amazon Employees
18 to 20 years 19%
20 to 30 years 54%
30 to 40 years 17%
40+ years 8%

Source: Amazon

Although there has been a temporary decline in the number of employees, the overall trend indicates a consistent expansion of the Amazon workforce in the long run. This growth is particularly significant when we consider the company’s enduring position as a dominant force in the online industry.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the rate of hiring employees for Amazon?

Pandemic-filled web-based shopping, combined with the normal pulverize of occasion deals, has driven Amazon to add 400,000 positions this year, pushing its definitive work to more than 1 million unexpectedly.

Those new openings in its stockrooms and conveyance tasks come as the organization manages a pound of requests from customers hesitant to purchase products in stores due to the coronavirus. Amazon added 250,000 positions in the three months through the finish of September alone, Amazon money boss Brian Olsavsky said in a call with writers after the organization revealed its monetary outcomes Thursday. It added another 100,000 specialists in October and now has almost 1.13 million representatives worldwide, contrasted with 750,000 laborers per year. This was around 1,400 individuals every day.

Image Source: About Amazon

Image Source: NBC News

That is, as yet, about a large portion of the 2.2 million laborers that rival Walmart utilizes. Home Depot employs around 400,000 specialists. Simultaneously, cutbacks keep mounting at other significant employers in the United States. ExxonMobil declared plans Thursday to cut 1,900 positions from its U.S. labor force. Already, Disney said it would lay off 28,000 laborers, and American Airlines cut 19,000 positions.

Olsavsky says, “We are adding individuals at a fast clip.”

Amazon’s most recent flood of employment comes after its previously reported plan to recruit 100,000 employees in March, the organization’s first move to add staff to deal with the underlying flood of pandemic-driven shopping.

The organization has likewise developed its satisfaction limit — the assortment of stockrooms, conveyance stations, and drivers it uses to get bundles to clients — by 50% this year, Olsavsky said. Likewise, the organization this year has given out $30 billion in capital spending — the sum it spends for property, hardware, and other fixed resources — “a huge part” of which has been aimed at tasks, Olsavsky said. Also, still, Amazon faces difficulties getting bundles to clients on schedule.

“We are not completely protected because we have outsider conveyance accomplices, and surely our own [shipping] limit has its impediments,” Olsavsky said. “We figure it will be tight on industry-wide limits, and we are no exemption for that.”

And keeping in mind that the pandemic has powered a flood in internet shopping, the infection has likewise hit Amazon stockroom laborers. The organization reported recently that almost 20,000 U.S. representatives had tested positive, or had been assumed positive, for the coronavirus since the pandemic began. The organization confronted furious analysis from representatives and a few officials that it wasn’t doing what was needed to ensure laborers.

In April, the organization said it would burn through $4 billion on pandemic-related costs, including testing stockroom laborers and giving them individual defensive stuff. It expects Covid-related costs, remembering efficiency misfortunes for distribution centers where laborers do not work intently together, to hit $4 billion in the current quarter.

In the quarter, Amazon beat investigator assumptions, procuring $6.3 billion, or $12.37 an offer. Deals hopped 37 percent to $96.1 billion. Investigators anticipated that Amazon should procure $7.36 an offer on deals of $92.6 billion, as S&P Global Market Intelligence estimated.

How many employees does Amazon have worldwide?

Amazon has the world’s largest online retailer and a vast workforce of around 1,541,000 full-time and part-time employees. Thanks to the internet, our lives have been transformed, enabling us to conveniently shop for a wide range of products without leaving the comfort of our homes. Amazon caters to almost every need, offering gadgets, appliances, clothing, books, cleaning supplies, and even food and beverages. It has become a go-to destination for online shoppers, boasting over 310 million users worldwide. In addition to its product offerings, Amazon provides subscription services like Amazon Prime Video and Amazon Music.

Being the dominant player in the US retail e-commerce market, Amazon holds a significant market share of 37.8%. It has become a household name among online shoppers. Amazon serves as a platform for over 1.9 million small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) Worldwide, accounting for nearly 60% of the company’s retail sales. However, despite its immense success, Amazon faced some challenges in 2022. With the reopening of physical stores and slower growth in online retail sales, the company had to downsize its workforce. Consequently, it had to cut 67,000 jobs, reducing its headcount from over 1.6 million employees in the previous year.

worldwide employment

Image Source: GeekWire

How many employees did Amazon start with?

How many people does Amazon employ at the start? At the point when Jeff Bezos and his significant other, MacKenzie, began driving northwest from Texas toward Seattle in 1994, they were setting off on an excursion to make one of the greatest internet business destinations on the planet. Even though they went on that initially long street outing alone, it didn’t take Bezos — with his fantastic vision and clamorous chuckle — long to begin pulling in his ability. Brad Stone’s book “The Everything Store,” in addition to a 2017 discussion with early workers Tom Schonhoff and Mike Hanlon, helped us to sort out the names of a portion of Amazon’s first basic representatives. Virtually the organization’s first 21 employees have since left the organization for different endeavors like business, philanthropy, and retirement.

Average Amazon Salary

Amazon.com Inc pays its workers an average of $102,228 every year. Pay rates at Amazon.com Inc range from an average of $59,815 to $153,938 per year. Amazon.com Inc representatives with the working title Principal Product Manager make the most with an average yearly compensation of $158,354, while workers with the title Warehouse Associate make the least with an average annual compensation of $29,036.

The median total compensation, which means half were paid more and half were saved money, for Amazon workers worldwide in 2018 was $28,836, up $390 from 2017, per the intermediary articulation.

In the United States, where Amazon’s new $15 an-hour minimum pay permitted by law produced results on Nov. 1, the median was $35,096, another measurement announced for 2019. The organization said the new pay floor would profit more than 250,000 Amazon full and part-time employees and more than 100,000 seasonal employees.

The filing notes that Amazon likewise gives health advantages beginning the first day at work, retirement commitments, parental leave for mothers and fathers, career improvement and development programs, and benefits excluded from complete pay calculations.

Amazon Finances

Amazon.com is principally a retail webpage with a business income model; Amazon takes a little of the deal cost of everything sold through its site while permitting organizations to promote their items by paying to be recorded as highlighted items. Starting in 2018, Amazon.com is positioned eighth on the Fortune 500 rankings of the biggest United States enterprises by absolute income.

For the fiscal year 2018, Amazon revealed an income of 10.07 billion U.S. dollars, with a yearly income of US$232.887 billion, an increment of 30.9% over the past financial cycle. Since 2007 deals have expanded from 14.835 billion to 232.887 billion U.S. dollars because of continued business development.

Amazon’s market capitalization went over US$1 trillion again toward the beginning of February 2020 after declaring the final quarter 2019 outcomes – Amazon’s total worker’s current number of employees in Amazon is 798,000.

Controversies attached to Amazon

Amazon has faced significant scrutiny and criticism for a variety of its practices since its inception. The company has supplied facial recognition technology to law enforcement, formed cloud computing deals with the CIA, and driven customers away from local bookstores, leading to diverse controversies. Critics have accused Amazon of environmental damage, prioritizing warehouse conditions poorly, and aggressively opposing unionization efforts. Moreover, Amazon has remotely deleted content from users’ Kindle devices, received public subsidies, and attempted to patent its 1-Click technology, among other anti-competitive actions and practices involving price discrimination. The company has also categorized LGBT books as adult content, further stirring criticism.

Amazon’s decision to promote its Price Check app by offering a 5% discount to users who checked prices in physical stores faced backlash from small businesses in December 2011. Competitors like Groupon, eBay, and Taap responded by offering $10 discounts on their products. Amazon has also pressured suppliers to maintain and increase its profitability, an internal effort once referred to as the Gazelle Project, where CEO Jeff Bezos suggested approaching small publishers like “a cheetah would pursue a sick gazelle.”

Controversies attached

Image Source: The Guardian

In July 2014, the Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon for promoting in-app purchases to children without parental consent. By 2019, Amazon banned the sale of skin-lightening and racist products that could harm consumer health.

The media, politicians, and both current and former employees have criticized Amazon for poor working conditions. In 2011, workers at the Breinigsville, Pennsylvania warehouse reportedly endured tasks in 100 °F heat, leading to dehydration and collapses. Initially, Amazon’s solution was to station ambulances outside the facility to transport overheated workers, although it eventually installed air conditioning.

In Bad Hersfeld, Germany, a 2013 German TV investigation revealed that some security guards, hired by a third-party company and sporting neo-Nazi attire, intimidated foreign and temporary female workers at Amazon’s distribution center. Amazon quickly cut ties with the security firm after the broadcast.

In March 2015, after facing criticism, Amazon announced it would remove 18-month non-compete clauses from its U.S. contracts for hourly workers, allowing them more freedom to find other employment after leaving the company.

A 2015 New York Times article depicted a “bruising” workplace culture at Amazon, where employees suffering from cancer or personal crises were allegedly pushed out or unfairly evaluated. CEO Jeff Bezos contested these claims, asserting such practices would be intolerable at Amazon. In response to improving employee morale, Amazon introduced six weeks of paid leave for new parents in November 2015.

Journalists continued to expose poor working conditions in Amazon’s fulfillment centers throughout 2018, and a report detailed harsh conditions for delivery drivers. Following criticism over inadequate wages, Bezos announced in November 2018 that all U.S. and U.K. employees would earn a minimum of $15 per hour, although this change coincided with the elimination of stock awards and bonuses for hourly employees.

 Image Source: Vanity Fair

Image Source: Vanity Fair

On Black Friday 2018, Amazon workers in several European countries staged strikes to protest unfair working conditions and low wages. The Daily Beast in March 2019 reported that between 2013 and 2018, emergency services responded to 189 calls from Amazon warehouses due to suicidal employees, underscoring severe mental strain from isolating and demanding work environments.

During the Prime Day sale on July 15, 2019, Amazon workers in the U.S. and Germany protested against low pay and poor working conditions. In March 2020, during the COVID-19 outbreak, Amazon’s UK staff were required to work overtime to meet increased demand, prioritizing profits over health according to critics.

In August 2019, the BBC reported on Amazon’s Twitter ambassadors who vigorously defended the company, sparking suspicions that they were bots programmed to counter criticisms of Amazon’s labor practices.

In its 2020 statement to U.S. shareholders, Amazon affirmed its commitment to supporting the core conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other fundamental human rights standards.

On November 27, 2020, Amnesty International highlighted the extreme health and safety risks Amazon workers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during Black Friday, a period of record profits for the company.

On January 6, 2021, Amazon announced a $2 billion initiative to build 20,000 affordable homes in its major employment regions, marking a significant investment in community infrastructure.

Conclusion

 Image Source: DEV Community

Image Source: DEV Community

Amazon actively lobbies the United States government and various state authorities on multiple critical issues, including enforcing online sales taxes, transportation safety, security and data protection, and intellectual property rights. The company directs its lobbying efforts primarily at the United States Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Reserve, according to administrative filings. Over the years, Amazon’s lobbying expenditures have shown a significant increase: $3.5 million in 2013, $5 million in 2014, and $9.5 million in 2015.

Previously, Amazon was a corporate member of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). However, following protests at its annual shareholder meeting on May 24, 2012, Amazon decided to terminate its membership. Despite facing numerous controversies, Amazon continues to stand as one of the largest employers in the United States, showcasing its mental strength and physical presence in the corporate and economic landscape.