Amazon (AMZN) is looking to hire over 100,000 veterans and military spouses by 2024 and pay them at least $15 per hour, the e-commerce giant announced Tuesday.

Amazon said the new hires will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package that will include health insurance, a 401(k) plan, 20 weeks of paid leave for birthing parents, and subsidized skills training opportunities.

Currently, Amazon employs over 40,000 veterans and military spouses across its business operations. The company expects that of the 100,000 new employees, 16,000 will comprise military spouses.

“Amazon is focused on recruiting and developing military talent with training programs specifically designed to help veterans transition into roles in the private sector,” John Quintas, Amazon’s director of global military affairs, said in a statement.

“We value the unique skills and experience that the military community brings—and our new hiring commitment will expand the impact that military members currently have on every single business across the company,” he added.

Amazon offers a series of programs designed to assist service members and military spouses transitioning into careers with the company, including its Technical Apprenticeship Program and AWS re/Start.

For employees already working at Amazon, the retailer offers upskilling training for higher-paying jobs through its Career Choice pre-paid tuition program and its Technical Academy software engineer training.

Additional veterans and military spouse benefits at Amazon include fellowships, mentorships, military spouse support, and deployment benefits.

Amazon is not the only employer making a commitment to hiring veteran and military spouses.

Walmart hired 265,000 veterans in 2020, promoting 44,000 to increased pay and higher responsibility roles, while Home Depot has about 35,000 veteran or military spouse workers on its staff, pledging $50 million in 2018 to train 20,000 military tradespeople over the next 10 years, Fox News reported

In addition to the 100,000 projected veteran and military spouse hires, Amazon said it currently has more than 35,000 job openings in the U.S. to fill.

Shares of Amazon were trading at $3,700 as of premarket hours on Tuesday, down $18.55, or 0.50%.

Amazon, which faces a unionization drive at its warehouse in Alabama, claims a majority its employees at the facility are satisfied with working conditions
Amazon, which faces a unionization drive at its warehouse in Alabama, claims a majority its employees at the facility are satisfied with working conditions AFP / INA FASSBENDER
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