Publix to Hire 30,000 for Permanent Positions

Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix said it plans to hire around 30,000 new employees for nonseasonal roles at its stores, distribution centers and manufacturing facilities. 

The fourth-quarter hiring will take place across Publix's currently seven-state operating area, the company said in a news release. (Last month, the company announced plans to expand into Kroger-heavy Kentucky with a store expected to open outside Louisville in late 2023.) With more than 225,000 associates and more than 1,280 stores, Publix lays claim to the title of the country's largest employee-owned grocery retailer. 

"As we continue to grow, having a dedicated team ready to meet our needs is vitally important," Publix VP of Human Resources Marcy Benton said in a statement. "Whether associates are new to the workforce or making a career change, Publix provides great benefits and a strong culture in which its associates build long, fulfilling careers."

Publix touted that it offers eligible employees tuition reimbursement benefits and an employee stock ownership plan. The company also is giving associates a $125 Publix gift card for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. 

It's an end-of-year hiring spree for grocery retailers, with Walmart announcing last week that it plans to hire 150,000 new store employees primarily for permanent roles and Target stating that it's looking to add 100,000 new workers. Both mass merchandisers also are hiring for thousands of supply-chain positions. In the Midwest, St. Louis-based Schnucks is hosting a career fair this week at all 111 of its stores. 

Interested Publix candidates are encouraged to apply online at jobs.publix.com and to browse potential roles through the Publix Job Match. 

Shortly after announcing its Kentucky expansion plans last month, Publix made a pair of executive moves, promoting its Miami Division VP, John Goff, to the corporate role of SVP of retail operations—a position that had been open since 2019, when Kevin Murphy moved up from that role to become Publix's president. Matt Crawley of the company's Atlanta division was named to succeed Goff.