US retailers go slow on new Christmas hires

CHICAGO-based Aon Consulting employment survey on holiday recruitment from 100 of the US largest retailers showed 19 per cent were planning to hire more staff, 44 per cent less and 37 per cent the same as 2008.

"While the economy is showing some signs of recovery, key indicators, such as the unemployment rate, give retailers good reason to proceed with caution," said Aon Consulting executive VP Bob Lopes.

US Department of Labour analyst James Brown predicted that hiring in the city will remain at the same pace as 2008 with an increase in temporary staff of 9,200 from September to December compared to 13,000 in a recession to 25,000 in a boom, reported the New York Times.

So far jobs declined in October to 1,100 but got off to a better start than year previous against a backdrop of a 10 per cent unemployment rate.

Retailers across New York are delaying hiring beyond Thanksgiving with temporary staff recruitment on hold until the rush begins, for some stores as late as mid-December.

"We'd love them to shop earlier. That would be wonderful. But that doesn't seem to happen with us," said mid-range clothing chain Brooklyn Industries CEO Lexy Funk whose pay rates remain at 2008 levels of US$9-10 an hour but above minimum wage.

The Container Store chain of 47 stores selling storage solutions and cheaper items is looking to hire an extra 10 staff per store because of an exceptional year. Spokeswoman Audrey Robertson said that they are proud of that fact "we have not done any layoffs or closed any stores during this kind of icky economic time."

Despite a flood of workers and genuine interest for temporary holiday work Ivy league graduate and ex-recruiter for city law firm Janet Riffa of Brooklyn is unlikely to seek work with a take home of less than her weekly $430 unemployment benefit.

She added taking temporary retail work would be an obstacle to work, albeit unpaid, of a nature more fitting for a professional, "I could probably get a job now, but the jobs that are being created are at the bottom end of the ladder."
 

Source: SchedNet