WEST HAZLETON - One of the largest employers in the Hazleton area is adding 300 jobs at its distribution center in the Humboldt Industrial Park.
Amazon.com will hire full-time workers and provide benefits, including health insurance, 401(k) plan and tuition assistance for some courses, a company spokeswoman Rebecca Passo Mikulski said in an email.
Currently, Amazon employs 1,500 at its center, which is among the largest buildings in Humboldt with 750,000 square feet.
The new workers will pick, pack and ship orders to customers, Mikulski said.
They are being hired to meet growing customer demand, she said.
Prospective workers may visit www.workatamazonfulfillment.com to apply online and view the job description.
"The ideal candidate possesses a strong work ethic, attention to detail, the ability to meet deadlines and a commitment to customer service as it relates to product fulfillment," Mikulski said.
W. Kevin O'Donnell, executive director of CAN DO Inc., the owner of Humboldt, said Amazon employs a range of workers from the manager to the custodians.
"Is every job a good job? To the person who has it, yes it's a good job," O'Donnell said.
At least one former worker at the plant, Kelly Pavuk, Freeland, has joined a class action lawsuit against Amazon. The plaintiffs claim they were unpaid for time taken to pass through metal detectors that prevent theft from Amazon centers at various locations, including Humboldt. Delays could stretch the wait at detectors to 10 to 20 minutes and Pavuk also said in filings that she waited at detectors when taking unpaid lunch breaks.
In Humboldt, Amazon has grown since recruiting up to 1,100 workers through a job fair before the center opened in 2008.
During holidays when orders increase, so does the local workforce.
Amazon had more than 3,000 employees during peak times, counting regular and season workers.
Worldwide, Amazon employed 884,400 people full time, according to its annual report for 2012.
"However, employment levels fluctuate due to seasonal factors affecting our business. Additionally, we utilize independent contractors and temporary personnel to supplement our workforce, particularly on a seasonal basis," the report said.
Amazon's stock prices have risen since the company debuted on the NASDAQ on May 15, 1997. A share sold for $23.50 at that day's end and was worth $331.80 when the exchange closed Wednesday.
Known initially for delivering books and movies, Amazon has diversified the products available for sale. Last year, the company began delivering groceries in Los Angeles through Amazon Fresh, a service first tried out a few years earlier in Seattle. Founder Jeff Bezos said last winter that he eventually would like drones to fly some of the company's products to customers.