At a time when the news is filled with stories about people out of work, about swelling unemployment applications, and about so many of us in the American workforce who are still employed being forced to adapt to a new work-from-home paradigm, there are still a few bright spots for people looking for a job. Not every company is shedding workers off the payroll during this coronavirus pandemic. In fact, a number of companies are hiring in unprecedented numbers.
The job you score tomorrow might be cut again in a few months when COVID-19 is finally under control, but short-term employment is certainly better than a total lack of income — just make sure you balance the benefits of working with the potential hazards of putting yourself out there right now, especially if you have any underlying conditions that make you more susceptible to complications caused by illness.
(Also, if you’re not actively looking for work but are actively looking to help out in the COVID-19 response, consider volunteering with a group like the American Red Cross, which is actively seeking volunteers for everything from blood donation to food delivery assistance to virtual support positions.)
Here are some of the places that are not only open for business but are actively hiring during the days of COVID-19.
Grocery Stores
If you have a major chain grocery store nearby, you probably have a potential job at hand. Kroger plans on hiring some 20,000 new employees this month. Albertson’s (parent company of Safeway and several other brands) is hiring some 30,000 new workers. And Publix will hire about 10,000 people. The list is long. The short story is that groceries are now more essential than ever, and with more need for cleaning, delivery, and other stepped-up services, supermarkets are on a hiring blitz. (Even 7-11 is in on it, adding some 20,000 jobs in coming weeks.)
Big Retail and Hardware Stores
Lowe’s is adding 30,000 jobs. Target is adding 9,000. Home Depot is hiring. And Walmart is looking to add a staggering 150,000 new people to its payroll this spring on top of small bonuses being paid to existing employees.
Delivery Services
It probably comes as no surprise that Amazon is adding new workers, and to the tune of 100,000 new people on top of its already streamlined fulfillment model. Instacart is adding an amazing 300,000 new full-time grocery shoppers/delivery people. And these are boom times for pizza delivery drivers, too. Pizza Hut is adding 30,000 employees, Papa John’s wants 20,000 new folks, and Dominos is adding 10,000 new employees. Also check out GrubHub, UberEats, and so on — all are likely hiring in your area. Oh, and UPS and FedEx — they’re certainly in the delivery business and are also hiring.
Remote Work Platforms
As work from home has become the new normal, tech support and communication providers have become the new face of everyday work. Slack is hiring 200 high-skill workers; Zoom is adding people in sales, engineering, finance, and more; and Microsoft, Google, and other tech companies are also still hiring, with a special focus on things like communication apps.
Pharmacies
The pharmacy is like the front lines of this epidemic: It’s where you get everything from medicine to cleaning supplies to toilet paper to food. So little wonder that CVS is hiring some 50,000 workers right now, Walgreens is looking for about 9,500 people, and others are following suit.
Dollar Stores
Often the only notable retailer in smaller towns, dollar stores are hiring in a big way during COVID-19. Dollar General is adding about 50,000 new workers this month, while Dollar Tree (called Family Dollar in some places) is adding 25,000 full- and part-time employees.
Tutors
If you have a skill set you can share with others, you can sign up to do freelance, full-time, or part-time tutoring work. Companies like Varsity Tutors are searching for folks to help meet the demands of learning in an online environment.
