Amazon (AMZN +1.43%) will now give hourly employees $3,000 a year for a maximum of four years to go back to school, the company announced. According to the Los Angeles Times, Amazon previously paid up to $2,000 a year for up to four years.
Since launching the Amazon Career Choice program in July 2012, the e-commerce giant has subsidized associate degrees or vocational certifications for its hourly employees. Amazon says its program is different from other tuition reimbursement programs as it funds education only in areas that are "well-paying and in high demand" according to sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
While the company also judges whether those skills are relevant to a career at Amazon, employees have pursued degrees in varied areas, including nursing and radiology. The top chosen fields of study for Amazon employees are computer and information technology, health and sciences, and accounting, according to the company.
Amazon will pay up to 95% of the tuition, textbooks, and associated fees up to a maximum of $12,000 over four years.
