UPS Sees Steady Hiring Ahead of Holiday Shipping Season

United Parcel Service Inc. said it plans to hire between 90,000 and 95,000 temporary workers for the coming holiday season, level with the estimate the shipping giant gave a year ago. During 2014, both UPS and rival FedEx Corp. had stepped up their seasonal hiring to support expected growth in e-commerce purchases. The two delivery companies had struggled during the 2013 holiday season with notably bigger-than-expected package volume that resulted in some delayed deliveries. Both companies managed to deliver more holiday packages on time last year. However, for UPS, the improved performance cost it $200 million more than it had expected. In its news release Tuesday, UPS said the seasonal jobs include full- and part-time positions—primarily package handlers, drivers and driver-helpers—and noted that such temporary jobs have served as an entry point for permanent positions at the company.