Instacart Wants To Hire 300,000 As Grocery Delivery Demand Skyrockets

What may be most interesting about the scale of hiring is how it reflects the wealth remaining in the US economy despite widespread layoffs and the near collapse of the capital markets. JL


Igor Bonifacic reports in Engadget:

Instacart plans to hire an additional 300,000 "full-service" contractors to help it deliver groceries to people during the coronavirus pandemic. With so many individuals and families stuck inside as a result of social distancing measures and shelter in place orders, order volume has increased by 150% over the last few weeks, with people buying more per cart as well. It will provide them with paid sick leave if they're diagnosed with COVID-19 or need to self-isolate.These workers are "full-service," but  independent contractors, not employees.

Instacart plans to hire an additional 300,000 "full-service" contractors to help it deliver groceries to people during the coronavirus pandemic. With so many individuals and families stuck inside as a result of social distancing measures and shelter in place orders in states like California, Instacart says order volume has increased by 150 percent over the last few weeks, with people buying more per cart as well.

The company currently operates in about 5,500 cities across the United States and Canada. Instacart's plan will see it hire broadly in states like California and New York. In the former, for instance, it plans to bring on approximately 54,000 new full-time shoppers. In other states like Texas and Florida, it will hire thousands of new contractors as well, and provide them with paid sick leave if they're diagnosed with COVID-19 or need to self-isolate.

With just how much the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the economy, it's likely a lot of people who are desperate for work will take on these delivery jobs, which will put them at higher risk of getting sick. As a consumer, you can use Instacart's new contactless delivery option to help keep those people safe.

Correction, 3/24/20, 10:15AM ET: This story and headline originally referred to these workers are "full-time." In Instacart's language, these workers are "full-service," but they are still independent contractors, not employees. We apologize for the error.