Gov. Phil Murphy said two things are very clear when it comes to employment: Unemployment filings are on a record place — and there are thousands of jobs available.
“Critical businesses remain open, and some of them are desperately seeking people to help them on the front lines of our response,” Murphy said. “By our tally, there are more than 8,000 available jobs, including grocery workers, warehouse and manufacturing/distribution personnel and many others.”
Murphy noted the Department of Labor & Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority have created a single page where anyone can find and apply for those jobs.
Go here for the jobs portal: jobs.covid19.nj.gov/.
The leader in this effort may be Walmart, which announced it is looking to hire more than 2,400 workers in the state to work in its stores, clubs, distribution centers and fulfillment centers, including a distribution center in Pedricktown.
Walmart is even paying extra. Among the benefits:
- A temporary $2/hour pay increase for all hourly associates working in its e-commerce fulfillment centers, from now through Memorial Day.
- A $250 referral bonus to fulfillment center associates who refer a new hire. The newly hired associate also receives a $250 referral bonus.
- Expedited hiring — a person can apply online, get hired and begin working in a fulfillment center or distribution center in as little as 24 hours. The company is offering full-time, part-time and temporary roles.
CVS Health, meanwhile, said it is also embarking on the most ambitious hiring drive in the company’s history, with plans to immediately fill 50,000 full-time, part-time and temporary roles across the country.
Roles include store associates, home delivery drivers, distribution center employees and member/customer service professionals. The company will utilize a technology-enabled hiring process that includes virtual job fairs, virtual interviews and virtual job tryouts. Many roles will be filled by existing CVS Health clients who have had to furlough workers, including Hilton and Marriott.
The company said those that come aboard — as well as those working there now — will get extra compensation. Bonuses will range from $150 to $500 and will be awarded to pharmacists and certain other health care professionals on the front lines, store associates and managers, and other site-based hourly employees.
