Target on Thursday announced that it will bring on 100,000 seasonal workers for the holiday season, a drop from the number of new jobs added last year as the retail chain looks to focus on offering more hours and flexibility to existing employees. 

The company said in a press release that the seasonal workers will be supplementing its current team and many will have the chance to remain employed at Target beyond the holiday season. 

Target had brought on a total of roughly 130,000 seasonal workers in both 2019 and 2020, though the company, which last year raised its starting wage to $15 per hour, said Thursday that it is looking to make even greater investments in current employees. 

The Minneapolis-based retail giant said it would be adding 5 million more hours for existing workers, resulting in $75 million in additional pay. 

“As a result of Target’s work to provide team members with the schedules they desire during the holidays, hourly team members are already working nearly 15% more hours than they were a year ago, on average,” the company said. 

Mark Schindele, Target’s chief stores officer, argued in a statement that “years of investments have helped us build an operating model within our stores that benefits our team, delivers for our guests and drives our business.” 

“Our team continues to deliver time and time again, showing incredible resilience and flexibility to meet the needs of our guests,” he added. 

Target’s chief human resources officer, Melissa Kremer, said that when Target leaders “invest in and care for our team we know that guest service improves, turnover goes down and team members can more easily build rewarding careers” at the company. 

The plans come as businesses have been looking to increase wages and employee benefits to attract a more stable workforce and boost business following the pandemic-induced economic downturn. 

With the holiday season approaching, other top corporations have started to announce their own seasonal hiring plans. 

Earlier this month, UPS, which was hit by a surge in shipments last year as the pandemic forced more customers to turn to online shopping, said it was hiring more than 100,000 workers for the 2021 holiday season. 

Walmart also announced this month that it would hire 20,000 additional workers while promoting its $20 per hour average wage to attract more employees amid the busy holiday season.