Over the past 25 years we have strived to continuously invent for customers, and during that time, with the support of customers, we have grown from a small startup to the second-largest private employer in the United States—and the fastest growing. As we begin a new decade of service to our customers, we wanted to share a snapshot of our job creation activities, tax profile, and significant investments in communities across the U.S.
Investing in innovation
Amazon is investing heavily across the U.S. Since 2010, we’ve made more than $350 billion in investments in corporate offices, customer fulfillment and cloud infrastructure, wind and solar farms, eco-friendly equipment and machinery, and compensation to our teams. We invest in the development of technology at our Seattle headquarters, our new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and at our 16 tech hubs across America.These investments are accelerating, and we estimate that they have contributed an additional $315 billion to the U.S. GDP since 2010.
Amazon is investing heavily across the U.S. Since 2010, we’ve made more than $350 billion in investments in corporate offices, customer fulfillment and cloud infrastructure, wind and solar farms, eco-friendly equipment and machinery, and compensation to our teams. We invest in the development of technology at our Seattle headquarters, our new headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, and at our 16 tech hubs across America.These investments are accelerating, and we estimate that they have contributed an additional $315 billion to the U.S. GDP since 2010.
Job creation
Over the last decade, no other U.S.-based company has created more jobs than Amazon. Our investments have led to the creation of over 2.7 million jobs in the U.S. We have more than 800,000 U.S. employees across 40 states and 250 counties. In addition, our investments have produced a ripple effect of more than 780,000 indirect jobs that help communities across the nation thrive. On top of that, we are supporting the rapid growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to launch and grow by selling their products online. SMBs have created more than 1.1 million jobs in communities across the U.S. as a result of selling on Amazon. In fact, SMBs from all 50 states that sell with Amazon are more than twice as likely to see 25-50% hiring growth compared to those that do not, according to research by IDC.
Over the last decade, no other U.S.-based company has created more jobs than Amazon. Our investments have led to the creation of over 2.7 million jobs in the U.S. We have more than 800,000 U.S. employees across 40 states and 250 counties. In addition, our investments have produced a ripple effect of more than 780,000 indirect jobs that help communities across the nation thrive. On top of that, we are supporting the rapid growth of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to launch and grow by selling their products online. SMBs have created more than 1.1 million jobs in communities across the U.S. as a result of selling on Amazon. In fact, SMBs from all 50 states that sell with Amazon are more than twice as likely to see 25-50% hiring growth compared to those that do not, according to research by IDC.
Amazon has a $15 minimum wage, and all of our employees receive quality benefits as well as access to a wide range of programs to learn new skills for in-demand jobs as part of Upskilling 2025, a $700 million commitment by Amazon to support all employees in gaining critical knowledge to move into higher skilled, better paying, technical or non-technical roles. Due in part to these programs and benefits, we are proud to have been recognized by LinkedIn as a top company to work for.
Our U.S. tax profile
Like most governments that try to encourage economic investment by companies, the U.S. Congress has written a tax code that incentivizes the type of job creation, capital investment, development of technology, and employee ownership that Amazon does because these are critical drivers of a prosperous economy. We follow all applicable federal and state tax laws, and our U.S. taxes are a reflection of our continued investments, compensation of our employees, and the current tax rules.
Like most governments that try to encourage economic investment by companies, the U.S. Congress has written a tax code that incentivizes the type of job creation, capital investment, development of technology, and employee ownership that Amazon does because these are critical drivers of a prosperous economy. We follow all applicable federal and state tax laws, and our U.S. taxes are a reflection of our continued investments, compensation of our employees, and the current tax rules.
A summary of Amazon’s 2019 U.S. taxes includes:
- Over $1 billion in federal income tax expense.
- More than $2.4 billion in other federal taxes, including payroll taxes and customs duties.
- More than $1.6 billion in state and local taxes, including payroll taxes, property taxes, state income taxes, and gross receipts taxes.
- Last year alone, Amazon collected and remitted nearly $9 billion in sales and use taxes to states and localities throughout the U.S. The recent enactment of “marketplace laws” by 40 states allows Amazon to legally collect state and local sales and use taxes on behalf of third-party sellers who sell their goods on our platform. We support marketplace laws and expect them to generate even more sales and use taxes in the coming years.
Supporting our communities
In addition to creating quality jobs, investing in innovation, and paying taxes, we’re also dedicated to supporting communities across the country—from caring for the environment to building skills of the future and helping solve the challenge of homelessness. As part of our Climate Pledge, we’re working to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early. We’re investing in 100,000 electric delivery vehicles, as well as $100 million in our Right Now Climate Fund to support nature-based climate solutions, as part of our plans to be net zero carbon by 2040.
In addition to creating quality jobs, investing in innovation, and paying taxes, we’re also dedicated to supporting communities across the country—from caring for the environment to building skills of the future and helping solve the challenge of homelessness. As part of our Climate Pledge, we’re working to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement 10 years early. We’re investing in 100,000 electric delivery vehicles, as well as $100 million in our Right Now Climate Fund to support nature-based climate solutions, as part of our plans to be net zero carbon by 2040.
We also are making significant investments and donations in programs like Amazon Future Engineer, a comprehensive childhood-to-career program aimed at increasing access to computer science education for children and young adults from underserved and underrepresented communities. The program is providing computer science classes to thousands of kids from underrepresented communities across the country and, each year, provides 100 students from underprivileged backgrounds with 4-year $40,000 scholarships to study computer science in college. We’re also committing over $130 million to address hunger and homelessness in Seattle, including building a unique, one-of-a-kind family shelter to sleep 275 moms, dads, and children every night built within Amazon’s Seattle office building set to open in early 2020.
We’re pleased to play a role in driving prosperity across the country, and we continue to be excited by the potential to continue to invest, invent, and create jobs and income in communities across the country.
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