Amazon.com has been hiring employees at a rapid pace over the last two years, and the job numbers in the company’s latest earnings report continue the trend. Amazon added 4,900 employees in the fourth quarter, to 56,200 employees, expanding its workforce by nearly 10 percent from the third quarter, not including contractors and temporary workers.

That wasn’t as much as the nearly 19 percent sequential growth that Amazon posted in the third quarter of last year, but Amazon’s hiring continues to significantly outpaced Google and Microsoft’s employment.

The search giant was neck-and-neck with Amazon with around 20,000 employees a little more than two years ago.

Tom Szkutak, Amazon’s chief financial officer, told analysts on a conference call that the majority of the employment increase is coming in in operations and customer service.

Previously: Amazon.com holiday sales miss mark, stock takes a hit

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.