Target and other retailers are hiring tens of thousands of seasonal workers for the holiday season as sales are likely to grow at a slower rate this year. With the unemployment rate at 4.2%, jobseekers hope these opportunities will make it the most wonderful time of the year.
Burlington Stores, which has over 1,000 locations across the U.S., is looking to hire 1,500 full-time seasonal warehouse associates and 23,000 part-time seasonal employees, including cashier and retail associates.
Bath & Body Works is recruiting more than 30,000 new seasonal workers for its 1,800 retail stores and 2,700 distribution centers.
Target is planning to hire 100,000 seasonal employees for its nearly 2,000 stores and over 50 supply chain facilities.
According to consultancy firm Bain and Company, retailers are planning to do similar levels of seasonal hiring as last year. Target said more than half of its seasonal team members in 2023 were offered permanent positions. But what is different than last year is how much shoppers will be spending on the holidays.
Data from a recent Deloitte report shows U.S. holiday sales are expected to grow at their slowest pace in six years.
Holiday sales are predicted to rise between 2.3 and 3.3%, for a total of $1.59 trillion between November 2024 and January 2025. This is down from last year’s 4.3% growth, which totaled $1.54 trillion.
As shoppers turn to online deals, Deloitte reports e-commerce will be a key driver in overall retail sales growth this season. Online sales are expected to bring in between $289 billion and $294 billion.
Reuters reports the holiday shopping season typically accounts for more than half of U.S. retailers’ annual revenue.
