10.3% More Seasonal Hires in 2012 Than 2012

John Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas

Despite some year-end uncertainty related to fiscal cliffs, a devastating hurricane and election-year politicking, retailers were confident enough in the final three months of 2012 to ramp up holiday hiring to its highest level in six years, according to an analysis of government employment data released by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

Employment in the retail sector increased by a net 728,300 jobs, between October 1 and December 31, according to non-seasonally adjusted data, released last week by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.  That is 10.3 percent higher than 2011, when retailers added 660,200 extra workers over the final three months of the year.  The nearly 730,000 retail jobs added this year represents the strongest year-end hiring surge since 2006, when employment in the sector increased by 746,900. Continue Reading

46% of Employers Giving Holiday Bonuses This Year

Drawing of Scrooge courtesy of Shutterstock

The scrooge economy appears to be loosening its grip, as a new study shows companies plan to offer more perks (bonuses, parties, gifts) than last year. The national study was conducted for Careerbuilder by Harris Interactive© from August 13 to September 6, 2012 and included 2,494 hiring managers and human resource professionals and 3,976 workers across industries and company sizes.

Bonuses: Forty-six percent of employers expect to give their employees holiday bonuses this year, up from 40 percent last year and 33 percent in 2010. Nearly one in five of them (19 percent) plan to provide a larger bonus than last year. Continue Reading

Retailers Add Additional 130,000 Jobs for Holidays

While several large retailers have announced large-scale holiday hiring plans, employment gains in the retail sector last month were virtually unchanged from a year ago, according to an analysis of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

John Challenger of Challenger, Gray & Christmas

The 130,100 retail job gains last month were only slightly more than the 128,900 retail jobs added in October 2011.  The first month of holiday hiring both this year and last were down significantly from the 149,800 retail jobs created in October 2010.

While 2011 started slowly, retailers added another 531,300 workers in November and December for a total of 660,200 seasonal employment gains, the highest level since 2007.  In 2008 — the worst holiday-hiring season in 22 years — retailers added only 38,600 seasonal workers in October and only 324,000 total workers during entire holiday season of October through December.   Continue Reading

Seasonal Hiring Projected to Increase Holiday Season

The importance of rewarding employees at Christmas

If the most competitive ingredient that a business has is its people, then it follows that the greatest benefit to a business is to have decisive confident people who readily take ownership of what they do.

Yet surprisingly many businesses do not retain good people. The percentage of people that leave corporations is unnecessarily high. To invest in training for the benefit of your competition may be common practice; but surely to retain such talent makes much more sense?

It is, however, a challenge to persuade employees to take ownership and to be accountable. Initiatives are implemented, structures revised, systems put in place, and training commenced, but with what result? Employees get excited; but there is not the transformation hoped for. Why? Continue Reading

Most Memorable Gifts From Co-Workers

Workers can expect more holiday cheer in the office this season, as companies offer more perks (bonuses, parties, gifts) than last year. Workers can expect more holiday cheer in the office this season, as companies offer more perks (bonuses, parties, gifts) than last year.

Bonuses: Four-in-ten (40 percent) employers plan to give their employees holiday bonuses this year, up from 33 percent in 2010. Among this group, 73 percent are planning to give the same amount as last year. Fourteen percent plan to provide a greater bonus than last year, while 13 percent plan to provide a smaller bonus. Continue Reading

13% Take On Extra Work To Pay For Holiday Gifts

If holiday shopping wasn’t enough to stress us out, try taking on additional workload in order to afford gifts. According to a November Persuadable Research survey, 29% have less money to spend than last year. Still, 60 percent plan to spend over $300 on gifts for friends, family and others. Where will this money come from besides regular employment? Thirteen percent will take on more work, 12 percent will sell something, 12 percent will use holiday bonus money.

It’s not easy to make ends meet for many Americans these days, but the holiday season is really important to many respondents. Over half, 56 percent, place high importance on the ability to give holiday gifts. Moreover, the chance to spend quality time with family and friends is exciting or extremely exciting to 43 percent of panelists. This excitement appears to be what fuels the need for people to take on extra work. Besides work, according to a variety of online sources, people might hold garage sales, sell things online, or even donate plasma to earn extra holiday cash. Continue Reading

2011 Holiday Hiring Expected To Be About Same As 2010

The holiday hiring season is off to a relatively strong start in 2011, with retail employment growing by a non-seasonally adjusted 141,500 jobs in October, according an analysis of the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

The 141,500 retail job gains last month nearly matched the 144,100 retail jobs added in October 2010. The first month of holiday hiring both this year and last represent vast improvements over the recession years of 2007 through 2009, when retailers added an average of just 57,200 seasonal workers in October. In 2008 — the worst holiday-hiring season in 22 years — retailers added only 38,600 seasonal workers in October and only 324,000 total workers during entire holiday season of October through December. Continue Reading