A slowing economy is expected to cap retailers hiring plans for the holiday season, according to the global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.
In its annual holiday hiring forecast, Challenger predicts that seasonal job gains in the retail sector will be about the same or possibly lower than a year ago, when employment grew by 627,600 from October through December.
Last year’s retail employment gains increased a better-than-expected 27 percent from the 495,800 seasonal workers added in the final three months of 2009.
“Retailers are seeing several signs that consumer spending is dipping just as they are beginning to make decisions about how many workers to add for the upcoming holidays. This does not bode well for job seekers,” said John A. Challenger, the firm’s CEO.
In 2008, holiday hiring fell to a 26-year low, as retail employment grew by just 324,900, the worst showing since 1982, when seasonal hiring totaled 259,500.
