Dive Brief:

• FedEx plans to add 55,000 workers to its network for peak season to help with an expected increase in package volume, the company confirmed to Supply Chain Dive. These new hires will join FedEx's existing workforce of 450,000.
• The company is looking to hire for full-time, part-time, temporary and career opportunities, a spokesperson said in an email. The majority of the peak season additions will join FedEx Ground. Current employees could also see increased hours over peak season.
• "As we continue to prepare for the holiday season, our biggest needs are package handlers and other support positions,"Gretchen Mathis, a spokesperson for FedEx, said in an email.

Dive Insight:

FedEx hired a similar number of seasonal workers in 2018, according to Commercial Appeal. UPS announced earlier this month it plans to hire 100,000 seasonal employees this year.

FedEx will also begin delivering seven days per week during peak season, which will continue as a normal offering in 2020.

FedEx COO Raj Subramaniam​ said FedEx would benefit from "the most automated network in the industry" to make seven-day delivery happen. UPS has similarly said it would benefit from increased automation this peak season.

"We expect record breaking volumes in multiple Mondays during the peak season," Subramaniam said on the company earnings call last week. "E-commerce growth continues, which in turns drives strong demand for residential delivery."

Multiple forecasts indicate increased spending this holiday season with expected growth ranging from 3.5% to more than 5%, according to research cited by Retail Dive. Deloitte's forecast includes e-commerce growth of 14% to 18%.

Neither UPS nor FedEx will apply peak season residential surcharges this year.