SEATTLE, Washington: Amazon will pay for the college tuition of its staff members, the company announced this week.

Tuition payments will be made available to more than 750,000 employees, in a bid to attract, as well as retain, staff.

The company's costs for the tuition program will reach some $1.2 billion for the subsequent four-year period for its workers in the United States.

Through the tuition program, Amazon will be able to increase its talent pool, in addition to ramping up its distribution network and core staffing, amid the current lack of manpower available for hire, according to company officials.

Amazon reported a spike in staff applying to its educational programs since the coronavirus struck, as workers sought to improve their skills.