Despite significant investments in robotics and artificial intelligence, Amazon executives maintain that the company’s warehouses remain a strong employment option for entry-level and unskilled workers.
Speaking to NewsWire in Japan, Xavier Chao, Amazon’s global head of PR for robotics and AI, likened robotic systems and automated sorters in warehouses to having coffee machines and snacks in office settings—tools that enhance the work environment rather than replace people.
“Employee retention is absolutely essential if we want to grow and sustain our business,” Mr. Chao said.
Australia is home to eight Amazon fulfilment centres, but only one—located at Kemps Creek in Sydney—features the company’s proprietary AI-powered robots. These machines are designed to transport stacks of products to human workers, who then sort and pack items.
The Kemps Creek site employs approximately 2,500 people. However, with Australia’s facilities generally lagging behind those in similar markets technologically, efforts to retrain local workers in robotic maintenance and operations have fallen behind.
In June, Amazon announced a $20 billion investment in Australian data centres, prompting renewed debate about the company’s growing footprint in the national economy.
“We believe innovation is key to creating attractive workplaces that help bring in and retain talent,” Mr. Chao added.
