7-Eleven hires 50,000 workers during pandemic, plans to add 20,000 more this year

7-Eleven, the world’s largest convenience store franchise brand with more than 71,100 locations in 17 countries, announced that it has hired more than 50,000 new team members in the U.S. since the start of March this year.

To continue providing Americans with employment opportunities, the brand plans to increase that figure by 20,000 before the end of the year, in order to continue meeting the demand for its services.

Many of these additional team members will assist with the new contactless retail options that 7-Eleven has enacted since the start of the pandemic, as it expanded its delivery option from 400 to 1,300 cities, added in-store pick-up through the new 7NOW delivery app, and increased its U.S. footprint by more than 300 stores this year.

“I am constantly inspired by our 7-Eleven heroes – franchisees and employees alike – who have stepped up to serve communities as we continue to navigate through the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said 7-Eleven president and CEO, Joe DePinto. “Hiring 20,000 more store employees allows us to continue to fulfill our mission to give customers what they want, when and where they want it, whether in stores or at home.”

In April, the U.S. employment rate climbed to 14.7 per cent, but has since fallen and currently stands at around 8.4 per cent. Before COVID-19 disrupted the global economy, North America’s unemployment rate was tracking to be below four per cent.

Beyond its stores, 7-Eleven has supported communities during the pandemic by donating one million masks to the Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA), and one million meals to Feeding America food banks. This is on top of the work being done by local 7-Eleven franchisees, who have offered free lunches to students and delivered meals to first responders.

“Locally owned and operated 7-Eleven stores are really going above and beyond to serve their communities,” said DePinto. “I’d like to thank 7-Eleven franchisees and corporate store employees for everything they are doing to provide necessary products and services to customers in need.”