By Kelly Yamanouchi, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Troy Warren for SandySpringsNewsAndTalk.Com #Business #EditorsPicks

UPS is hiring 100,000 seasonal workers as it prepares for the busy holiday shipping period.

That includes nearly 2,340 positions in Atlanta.

The Sandy Springs-based shipping giant said it expects an increase in package volume starting in October and continuing through January.

The hiring surge comes as many companies are facing challenges finding enough employees to staff their operations amid a national worker shortage that has arisen as businesses ramp up work. UPS is looking to hire roughly the same number of workers as it hired last year for the holiday season.

The company plans to give many applicants job offers within 30 minutes of applying. Those interested can apply at upsjobs.com.

The openings are for full-time and part-time seasonal jobs for package handlers, drivers, driver helpers and people who can drive their own vehicles to deliver packages. Many of the package handler jobs pay $15 an hour, with higher pay in some other parts of the country.

About a third of seasonal package handlers at UPS were later hired into a permanent job, according to the company.

UPS said it “encourages all candidates applying for a seasonal job to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.” The company is requiring vaccines for employees returning to work at its headquarters and other office buildings, but doesn’t have the same requirement for front-line workers.