Kroger to hire for 20,000 positions

Kroger is looking to hire 20,000 employees.

The Kroger Co. is ramping up for the holiday season with a major hiring initiative.

The country’s largest grocery store retailer will hold its second nationwide hybrid hiring event on October 13, from 2-5 p.m. The event will include virtual and on-site interviews, and new hires can start the job in as little as three days, the company said.

Kroger is looking to hire 20,000 employees to fill roles in retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, supply chain, merchandising, logistics, corporate, pharmacy and healthcare. While the focus is the holiday season, many of the roles are designed for long-term/permanent placement.

 

Kroger’s hiring initiative comes as other retailers, from Walmart to Macy’s, are also gearing up for the holiday rush with plans to hire both seasonal and permanent employees. (Most recently, Publix Super Markets announced plans to hire  30,000 employees across its seven-state operating area.) It also comes as the retail industry continues to be challenged by a severe labor crunch. In a recent  study by Accenture, 49% of retail executives cited feeling increased pressure to provide career growth opportunities for their employees, and 51% said they feel pressure to offer permanent roles to holiday-season temporary workers.

[Read More: Retailers under pressure on employee, supply chain fronts as holidays approach]

The available opportunities at Kroger, which are for salaried as well as hourly roles, include store leaders, customer service managers, personal shoppers, e-commerce specialists, digital marketing managers, software engineers, data architects, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, machine operators, category and procurement managers, financial analysts, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, project managers, and administrative supporters. Pharmacist and pharmacy technician positions are also available.

"The Kroger Family of Companies is eager to welcome 20,000 associates to our organization as we prepare for an incredible holiday season where customers are planning to return to larger family gatherings and celebrations," said Tim Massa, senior VP and chief people officer, Kroger Co. "It's an exciting time to work in grocery retail, and as one of the leading retailers and employers in America, we're committed to offering associates a culture of opportunity and career with purpose, competitive pay and benefits, and flexible schedules.”

Kroger noted that it provides comprehensive compensation packages, including competitive salaries and wages, healthcare, and retirement. In addition to an $800 million incremental investment in associate wages and training over the last three years, the company is investing $350 million more in 2021 that has increased its average hourly wage to more than $16 nationally and when coupled with benefits, total compensation is more than $21 an hour.

In addition, Kroger has a tuition reimbursement program that offers up to $21,000 for both part-time and full-time associates, and covers a GED to PhD. Since inception, this program has benefitted 6,789 associates, with hourly associates making up 88.4% of those who have taken advantage of the offering so far. 

Kroger employs nearly half a million associates and operates almost 2,800 stores under a variety of banners that  include Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Soopers, Foor 4 Less, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer and others.

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