Amazon has announced an expansion of its Career Choice program in Los Angeles, which will now pre-pay tuition for eligible hourly employees pursuing General Educational Development (GED), English as a Second Language (ESL), certificate, or college degrees. The initiative aims to broaden access to local higher education and develop a more skilled workforce.
The Career Choice program, initiated by Amazon in 2012, covers 100% of tuition costs and reimburses approved books and fees for eligible hourly employees. It is designed to enhance long-term workforce skills as automation and robotics become increasingly integral to fulfillment and logistics operations. To date, over 250,000 workers globally have participated in the program.
Cal Poly Pomona joined Amazon’s Career Choice network in 2022. According to the university, it offers prepaid tuition and degree pathways for Los Angeles-area employees interested in fields such as business, computer science, and engineering. The institution provides tailored advising and support for working adults, aligning with Amazon’s broader strategy to equip its workforce with credentials in high-demand technical disciplines that drive innovation across logistics and technology operations.
Chaffey College’s “Chaffey + Amazon Career Choice” program allows Amazon associates across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire to pursue associate degrees and certificates with prepaid tuition. The partnership integrates Amazon’s internal payment system, eliminating upfront costs for employees while supporting training in logistics, business management, and technical skills—areas critical to Amazon’s local operations and Southern California’s expanding advanced manufacturing and distribution sectors.
The Los Angeles Unified School District’s Division of Adult and Career Education continues expanding ESL and GED programs. These foundational learning opportunities provide essential education pipelines for workers advancing through Amazon’s Career Choice. They reflect the company’s focus on accessibility by helping employees strengthen language and literacy skills that serve as stepping stones toward advanced technical training and higher-paying roles in an increasingly automated labor market.
Amazon identifies Career Choice as part of its $2.5 billion global upskilling initiative aimed at preparing 50 million people for the future of work by 2030. More than 700,000 employees have already participated in training programs since 2019, gaining skills in areas such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, and cloud computing. The company says these investments help employees adapt to automation while advancing into higher-skill careers both within Amazon and the broader economy.
Founded in 1994, Amazon operates global businesses spanning e-commerce, logistics, digital media, and cloud computing from its Seattle headquarters. The company employs over 1.5 million people worldwide—including thousands across California—and maintains a significant presence in the Los Angeles region with major logistics, creative, and tech operations that provide a regional base for many Career Choice participants.
