Amazon signs big Bay Area deals as part of hiring blitz

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Amazon is on a hiring blitz. The retailer is adding employees and expanding its facilities.

In San Francisco, the online giant is renting 180,000 square feet of office space on Market Street. This follows Amazon signing recent deals for space in both East Palo Alto and Sunnyvale. Now we know they're looking to hire more than 1,100 people in the Bay Area.

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Meanwhile in other parts of the country, a 12-state job fair was held Wednesday.

"This is actually one of the biggest hiring events in Amazon's history," Amazon Spokesperson Cedric Ross said.

The online powerhouse promised to fill 50,000 jobs in warehouses nationwide.

"We are expecting to offer on the spot job offers to thousands of future employees so it's very exciting," Amazon Operations PR Manager Shevaun Brown said.

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They held huge job fairs from Seattle to New Jersey and the starting wages range from $11.50 to $13 an hour.

"This is like a cattle call. Normally I apply for a job and you get contacts through email or phone, come in for the interviews. So this is the first time I've ever done anything like this," job applicant Pete McCauley said.

Wednesday's hiring bonanza may put traditional retailers on pause as online sales seem to be booming, while stores like Sears and Kmart are closing stores across the country due to slumping sales.

Click here for a look at job openings here in the Bay Area.