Holiday retail hiring got off to a slow start in October but surged in November in what is on pace to be one of the best hiring seasons since before the recession, global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said today.
Holiday retail hiring, flat in October, rose by 423,500 people in November, up 27 percent from November 2010’s hiring pace. The number hired was the most in any November since 2007.
So far this holiday season, retailers have added 547,200 workers, compared to 476,800 workers added in October and November 2010.
“While we expected holiday retail hiring to be about the same as a year ago, stronger-than-expected sales on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday could result in a late hiring surge that could push December employment gains up over last year’s levels,” said John Challenger, the firm’s chief executive.
Aldo Svaldi: 303-954-1410, asvaldi@denverpost.com or
