It may be easier to find someone who likes fruitcake than it is to get a seasonal job this Christmas.
“I’ve heard a little bit of everything,” said Terry Sampson of the Hannibal Area Chamber of Commerce. “There are some people hiring as they ramp up for Christmas, but there are some who aren’t hiring.”
Retailers already have cut almost 600,000 jobs nationally in the last year, and the outlook for the holidays isn’t bright.
Only 60 percent of employers plan to add workers, down significantly from previous years.
The average number of staff hired during the holidays usually is almost 681,000. Last year, the number was 384,000, and another decrease is expected in 2009.
There are exceptions, especially in Northeast Missouri.
The Swiss Colony Calling Center in Hannibal is nearly at the end of hiring 600 additional associates. The employees take orders by phone from customers who’ve been sent catalogs.
“We’re a Christmas-based company, so we anticipate we’re going to be busy,” said Swiss Colony spokesman Jim Balfour.
Hannibal’s JC Penney store is pretty well set for the holiday buying rush.
“Most retailers have a really good corps of associates,” said JC Penney manager Jason Friedel. “We’re really lucky here in Hannibal. We already hired a few folks earlier in the season in anticipation.”
In Bowling Green, a new Wal-Mart Supercenter just opened with 200 workers, but manager Travis St. Aubyn said a few seasonal people will be added.
“We’re getting ready to hire now,” St. Aubyn said.
Retail jobs are one of the catalysts of the economy, making up about 11 percent of the American workforce.
Experts predict that the best prospects for seasonal hiring will be at the big box stores, particularly in stocking and shipping departments.
Retail forecasters predict consumers this year will buy more practical gifts or that families will join in buying large gifts together.
Another big trend will be the use of gift cards, and shopping close to home for values will be more important than ever.
“We need the tax base to stay in the county and we’re really encouraging people to shop locally,” said Faye Whitaker, store manager at Dollar General in New London.
