Does Amazon Create Or Destroy Jobs?

December 5, 2017 in Daily Bulletin

Dave Edwards and Helen Edwards looked at the workplace impacts of Amazon:

  • By the end of 2017 Amazon is expected to have increased its workforce by 147,000 employees – a remarkable 43% increase.
  • Yet overall employment in the areas of retail that Amazon competes in (think book stores instead of gas stations) will decline by 24,000.
  • This is likely because as Amazon grows its operations, people increasingly choose to buy from its stores, rather than brick and mortar ones.
  • The stock market reflects this. Amazon’s stock is up about 60% this year – while the S&P Retail Index has remained stable.
  • There is one category of worker that Amazon has done wonders for: robots. By the end of 2017 it is expected to have added 75,000 new robots to its workforce.

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