Job prospects tight this season - Your Life

Greater willingness among current staff to put in additional hours, the welcome return of former, experienced employees, and the significant productivity gains that are being achieved throughout the economy are likely to reduce the need for hiring new workers, thus creating one of the most competitive holiday retail job markets in years, according to John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of the international outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., Chicago, III.

With the recovery still relatively weak and no signs of a significant resurgence in consumer spending, Challenger feels that "even if hiring approaches pre-2001 levels, competion petition for these jobs will be fierce. There are more than 13,000,000 Americans out of work. Many are qualified and willing to accept part-time, temporary positions at the nation's retailers to generate some holiday income.

"However, an anticipated increase in holiday sales by itself will probably not be enough to boost hiring as much as some are probably hoping. Retailers, like other sectors of the [struggling] economy, are proceeding cautiously when it comes to adding workers. Many stores are more likely to increase current workers' hours, a strategy that is much easier to reverse if business does not surge"

Some retailers already have announced that they expect to hire about half as many holiday workers this season as compared to previous years, due in part to the weak economy.

"A walk through any mall or down-town shopping area will reveal fewer 'Help Wanted' signs," Challenger observes. "Most stores will not need to advertise and any advertising would probably just result in an over-whelming flood of applicants. When it comes time to boost staff for the [season], many retailers will simply contact people who worked during the holidays in previous years or summer employees who left for college but are back in town for winter break."

Another trend likely to keep hiring in check is that, like other sectors of the economy that are benefiting from productivity gains, retailers are finding ways to do more with fewer workers. For example, some manned checkout lanes are being replaced with self-checkout stations. Moreover, some larger book, music, and appliance stores have supplemented on-the-floor sales staff with Internet-connected computer kiosks that tell customers where a specific title or product can be found in the store and if it is in stock. In some cases, the customer can order an out-of-stock item over the web and have it shipped directly to his or her home. Other forms of technology, including software to ease and/or automate inventory and other back-office operations, will further help retailers eliminate some of the need for human beings.

"This does not mean that those interested in retail jobs should just stay at home. Make no mistake about it--there will be jobs added, but winning one of these jobs will not come easily," Challenger explains. "Job seekers have to do something to make themselves stand out in the eyes of the hiring manager, whether it is their knowledge of the products or their flexibility in work schedule. [They] should also look beyond the traditional malls and chain stores. There are dozens of businesses that ... see increased business during the holidays, including entertainment venues, restaurants, packing and shipping outfits, [as well as] all of the secondary businesses that supply these businesses."

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