Report: seasonal retail jobs to increase

Sep 20, 2010

Austin Business Journal

Central Texas retailers may have the gift of a job this holiday season, according to a recent report.

Heading into the holiday shopping season, retailers will likely bulk up on seasonal staff — especially after two consecutive months of sales gains — consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. said Monday. Unemployment in the Austin region has been slowing declining, falling to 7.2 percent last month, adding 18,700 jobs since August 2009.

Retail payrolls from October through December grew by 501,400 workers, 30 percent higher than in 2008, when holiday hiring hit a 22-year low. The report does warn, however, that even in a recovery, seasonal hiring in 2010 is likely to remain lower than pre-recession levels.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas said retailers will continue to be cautious, believing "that the economy is at a fragile state of the recovery and could turn on a moment's notice."

The National Retail Federal reported sales increasing 3.5 percent year-over-year in August.