New pics: Amazon's Nashville HQ readies for opening, workers sought

Amazon, the nation's leading job creator since at-home deliveries spiked during the pandemic, released two new Nashville headquarters images ahead of its annual recruitment drive. 

The company's new 20-story tower downtown was designed to house half of the 5,000-employee workforce when it opens later this year at 1001 Church Street. 

The steel bones of a second Amazon tower are now rising in the 17-acre Nashville Yards development that's remaking much of the city west of downtown, bordering the Gulch. 

The company is actively hiring 600 tech and corporate employees to work in the two-tower Nashville "Operations Center of Excellence" managing its southeastern U.S. hubs. Two thousands jobs have already been filled there, company officials said. 

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Davidson County officials incentivized Amazon's move to town by offering $500 for each new employee each year, for seven years, totaling $15 million. The sweetener requires that the tech firm fill these jobs before the payments are made annually. 

Amazon officials said the company has added $13 billion to Tennessee's economy since 2010, including creating more than 25,000 jobs and building tech-enabled warehouses and upscale offices. 

Nationwide, Amazon is now hiring for 40,000 open office jobs and tens of thousands more hourly positions in the delivery network. 

This year's Career Day will take place online on September 15. In Nashville, the yearly all-day event drew long lines and thousands of visitors before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Registration is now taking place online at https://www.amazoncareerday.com. 

"Over 1,200 Amazon recruiters will offer 20,000 free one-on-one career coaching sessions to job seekers, and an additional 10,000 sessions for Amazon employees to help them continue to grow in their careers," according to a company statement. "The event will also bring together world-leading experts to provide candid advice on how job seekers can start, build, or transition their careers."

Companies around the country are battling for a limited pool of tech-savvy talent, and Amazon hopes to position itself as a leading contender. 

A nationwide worker shortage is incentivizing pay raises, perks and aggressive recruitment as business returns from COVID-19 closures. 

There were a record 9.3 million job openings nationwide in June 2021, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. As pandemic-related unemployment benefits phase out, another 2 million jobs could be added by the end of this year, according to a Morning Consult survey of 5,000 unemployed workers in June. 

"Expiring benefits will not address all the barriers to filling open roles with qualified candidates," the study found. 

Childcare costs and demands have prevented many from returning to work after the pandemic, and many people are adjusting to an increasing digital economy with new career goals – a trend Amazon hopes to benefit from. 

Workers at Amazon's Nashville headquarters will have the choice between having an on-site parking space or taking a $175-per-month payment for biking to work. 

The pet-friendly offices have outdoor parks on campus and eateries including The Juke & Rail Cafe. 

Amazon is the largest office tenant at Nashville Yards, a multi-billion-dollar development built by San Diego-based Southwest Value Partners and Anschutz Entertainment Group in partnership with Pinnacle Financial Partners, which is moving its offices from SoBro to the flashy new project. 

"We’re working hard every day to be the best place for people to have satisfying and fulfilling long-term careers," said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. "Amazon continues to grow quickly and relentlessly invent across many areas, and we’re hoping that Career Day gives both job seekers and current Amazon employees the support they need to learn new skills or reimagine their careers at Amazon or elsewhere."

Sandy Mazza can be reached via email at smazza@tennessean.com, by calling 615-726-5962, or on Twitter @SandyMazza.