Washington retailers will add nearly 13,500 seasonal workers from October through December, according to projections from the state’s Employment Security Department.
Last year, employers hired some 13,700 additional workers, which was about 3 percent higher than Employment Security’s prediction.
The department’s labor economists say the bulk of the seasonal hiring will be in general merchandise stores, adding nearly 7,500 jobs, but down about 1,100 positions from the same period last year. Clothing and clothing-accessory stores expect to hire about 3,700 holiday workers, slightly up from the 2012 holiday season.
Nationally, retailers are expected to hire less holiday help in 2013, with some 700,000 temporary hires projected from October through December. That would fall below the 751,800 hired last year.
“The holiday hiring season is just getting started and will be in full swing by the end of the month,” said Employment Security Commissioner Dale Peinecke. “This is a good time for job seekers to spruce up their applications and start watching for job notices.”
In addition to checking employers’ websites, job seekers should check with WorkSource and go2worksource.com for local job listings.
WorkSource is a partnership of state, local and nonprofit agencies that delivers an array of employment and training services for job seekers and business. WorkSource also offers job-listing and recruitment services to businesses seeking seasonal workers.
