Amazon Plans Further Expansion

Amazon's growth continues unabated, reports John Cook, as the company plans for further expansion in Austin, Chicago, and Phoenix, in addition to adding a projected 25,000 workers at its Arlington, Virginia HQ2 hub.

It’s yet another signal that the cloud computing and online retailing giant plans to diversify the geographies where its technology workers and corporate staff do business, something that will take on more importance as directors at the company begin to individually decide remote work policies.

The company plans to add 2,000 jobs in Austin, 550 in Tempe, and 450 in Chicago as part of its decision to create 3,500 jobs in six cities. "Having geographic diversity will help Amazon recruit more broadly, and provide more flexibility for current workers who may find it more convenient to live in other parts of the country." While Amazon's biggest employment growth has been in its fulfillment centers, it also plans to spread out its corporate staff to more cities.

Amazon's rapid growth has drawn concern from community activists who warn that warehouse facilities, often located in low-income communities, contribute to poor air quality, increased traffic congestion, and other public health impacts. At the same time, Amazon has indicated a shift to owning rather than leasing land, which could have powerful implications for the industrial real estate market.