Hannah Ryan
(Australian Associated Press)

Australians in lockdown are sending and receiving parcels in volumes not seen since Christmas, prompting Australia Post to hire thousands more workers and do weekend deliveries.

The postal company is looking for more than 4000 new staff, including 1000 delivery drivers and 2100 people to sort parcels.

Parcels will arrive on weekends until the end of the year.

“Our posties and drivers have been out there since March last year often delivering on most days like it’s Christmas,” Australia Post Executive General Manager Nicole Sheffield said on Wednesday.

“We know that Australians are relying on us more than ever and will continue to in the coming months, which is why we’re putting some key measures in place to be ready for our biggest Christmas ever.”

The company saw a 32 per cent year-on-year increase in online shopping in the past financial year.