Amazon Announces Plans to Open New Office in Vancouver and Create 1,000 Jobs

New office will open in 2020 and will enable Amazon to double its workforce in Vancouver

Across Canada, Amazon now has over 5,000 full-time, full-benefit employees

SEATTLE, Nov. 3, 2017 /CNW/ - Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced that the company has signed a lease for a new office in downtown Vancouver. The office will allow Amazon to double its workforce in the city from 1,000 to 2,000. The office, with Oxford Properties, is scheduled to open in 2020 and will be Amazon's second in Vancouver.  

Amazon also announced that its current Canadian workforce has grown to over 5,000 full-time, full-benefit employees across Canada, spanning sites in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

"Amazon is excited to continue growing our workforce throughout Canada," said Alexandre Gagnon, Vice President of Amazon Canada and Mexico. "We are among the largest employers of software engineers in Canada and look forward to continuing to create new job opportunities for Canadians."

In addition to its office in Vancouver, Amazon employs over 500 British Columbians at its fulfillment centres in Delta and New Westminster, BC, and also operates subsidiary Abebooks.com, based in Victoria, BC. Interested candidates can find available openings by field or location at Amazon.jobs.

Navdeep Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development said, "One of our government's top priorities is job creation for a strong and robust middle class in Canada. This exciting growth announcement by Amazon is proof that our plan is working. Global companies like Amazon see Canada as a strong place to invest because of our talented workforce and focus on innovation – that's translating into more jobs for people in Vancouver. Congratulations to Amazon on your continued success – you have a committed partner in Canada."

"I'm pleased Amazon is increasing their presence in Vancouver, creating good jobs and helping us build a strong, sustainable economy that works for everyone," said Premier John Horgan. "We will build on Amazon's plans to bring new jobs to B.C. by continuing to open up access to education and skills training, so British Columbians are ready to fill these high-paying jobs."

"Vancouver's innovation economy is booming and it's exciting to have Amazon expand here, adding valuable job space for 1,000 more employees," says Mayor Gregor Robertson. "Vancouver's leading the way with the fastest growing, most resilient and greenest economy in Canada, and companies from all over the world, like Amazon, are moving to Vancouver with well-paying jobs to be a part of our success."

There are also tens of thousands of Canadian small businesses and entrepreneurs selling on Amazon.ca, and they achieved a record-setting one billion in sales in 2016. "The growth we've seen from selling on Amazon has helped us add 12 full and part-time jobs in Vancouver with plans for another 12 in the next 18 months," said Kevin Pasco, Co-Founder, CMO of Nested Naturals. "Our best-selling natural sleep aids and greens powders were proudly launched on Amazon.com and continue to serve thousands of happy customers daily."

Amazon provides employees with highly-competitive pay, benefits, a group RRSP plan, and company stock. With more than 500,000 employees worldwide, Amazon ranks #1 on Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies, #2 on Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies, and #1 on The Harris Poll's Corporate Reputation survey. Amazon was also recently included in the Military Times' Best for Vets list of companies committed to providing opportunities for military veterans.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

SOURCE Amazon.ca

Amazon.com, Inc., Media Hotline, [email protected], www.amazon.com/pr