Holiday hiring by retailers is approaching record level that was set 12 years ago. This was according to an analysis of government numbers made by Consultancy Company Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
Retailers have added 619,700 seasonal workers in October and November. This was more than the 512,600 holiday employees hired over the same period in 2011.
If businesses add 140,300 more workers in December, then they will match the 760,000 workers hired during the holiday season in 2000, which is the record high. This could easily be done. Last year, retailers hired 147,600 employees in December and a total of 660,200 seasonal employees.
In November of this year, retailers such as Amazon.com and Target added 465,500 more workers. This was a 21 percent increase from the same month last year and above the record level set in November 2007. The consultancy firm gets its non-seasonally adjusted data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Wal-Mart and other chains opened before Black Friday and allowed shoppers in during Thanksgiving. Macy’s stores will stay open for 48 hours straight from December 21 with 57 stores staying open for another 24 hours after the first 48 hours until Christmas Eve. This would be the first time Macy’s will keep most of its stores open for the last weekend of holiday shopping.
The number of shoppers who will spend during the holiday rush is still uncertain. Consumer confidence is at a four month low. Black Friday this year saw healthy shopping levels while retail sales increased 1.6 percent in November.
