Walmart Inc. plans to hire 20,000 supply chain employees this month as the world's largest retailer prepares for a busy holiday season.

The roles, a mix of part-time and full-time jobs ranging from freight handlers to management positions, will be offered at 250 Walmart and Sam's Club distribution centers, fulfillment centers and transportation offices, the company said Wednesday. The average wage is $20.37 per hour.

Walmart also announced its opening of six new Walmart Supply Chain Academies to train employees in specialized supply chain skills and soft skills like leadership, communications and change management. 

Rival Amazon.com Inc. is seeking to fill more than 50,000 corporate, tech and operations jobs across 220 U.S. locations. The world’s largest online retailer said in a statement that it plans to hold its “biggest-ever recruiting and training event” on Sept. 15 — one week after Walmart’s special hiring events on Sept. 8-9. 

The announcements come as retailers grapple with a global supply chain crunch that looks like it will last through the holidays and well into next year, while the surging delta variant drives labor shortages, upends factory production and disrupts shipping.