Seasonal Hiring Could Improve This Year

Retail holiday hiring could get a boost this year, according to a report this week from human resources consultancy Challenger Gray & Christmas Inc.

Two consecutive months of sales gains may give retailers enough of a boost to increase their seasonal hiring of part-time workers this year, according to the report.

Last year retail payrolls grew by about 501,400 workers in October, November and December, according to non-seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

That marked about a 30 percent increase over 2008, a tough year, when holiday hiring dropped to a 22-year low of 384,300 extra holiday helpers.

“Retailers do not want to be caught with too many workers at a time when many of the fundamentals needed for strong consumer spending remain a little shaky. There are still nearly 15 million Americans out of work and many have lost their homes or are struggling to hang on to them. This does not bode well for heavy holiday spending,” said Challenger.

Still, some signs are positive, including the fact that layoff announcements from retailers have fallen about 65 percent over a year ago, according to Chicago-based Challenger Gray & Christmas.

Source: Boston Business Journal