More Bad News on Jobs: Stores Trim Holiday Hiring

[OhioChick]

Published: Tuesday, 6 Sep 2011 | 1:14 PM ET

Don’t expect a big boost in hiring from the retail sector during the holiday season, according to the results of a survey released Tuesday.

Although the vast majority of retailers — some 68 percent — plan on keeping holiday hiring at roughly the same level as last year, a quarter expect to trim hiring plans for seasonal workers, according to an annual hiring survey conducted by the Hay Group, a global management consultancy.

That’s a greater number than last year, when 17 percent of the retailers Hay surveyed said they would scale back hiring.

“Three months ago… people were extremely optimistic about the holidays, but that mood has shifted to one that is cautiously optimistic,” said Maryam Morse, the national retail rewards practice leader at Hay Group.

More: http://www.cnbc.com/id/44410418

[Sherman A1]

1. Not a surprise

I expect it to be a weak Christmas season.

[glowing]

2. Its absolutely ridiculous.. I was at the mall around back to school time.

Everyone was buying uniform items for children... They couldn't keep things stocked up, had too many people working in the wrong departments and not enough in the departments in demand.. and to boot, only one ring up sales section that was literally taking 1/2 hr to 45mins to get through at the mall. If Christmas is any indication of what to look forward to, y'all better start shopping now. There is no reason not to hire part time sales people during the holidays. Overworking the employees and not having enough roaming help is making Department stores look like Walmart. Things strewn about out of place, dressing room rack full of clothing that should be returned to racks and stacks, and a general horrible shopping experience altogether. AND all the employees can say is "I'm sorry". They can't hire anyone new. The mandates come from corporate. Well, I think we need to e-mail corporate and tell them to start hiring. Now that this little bit was just posted, I had forgotten to write to Sear's and complain to the department that can do something about their store that is feeling too much like K-mart and not enough like a department store that I'm paying twice the money for a bit better quality.

Please, do the same... If the big corporations get enough complaints, then perhaps they will hire some people and figure out how to make the shopping experience easy, rather than a huge inconvenience. There was a time you couldn't get the sales people off of you... now you can't find any.

[Sherman A1]

3. It's all about doing

more with less and less and less.......

[jtrockville]

5. " y'all better start shopping now".... either that, or just don't bother.

I'll be squarely in the "just don't bother" camp. I'm tired of buying cheap junk that no one needs.

[glowing]

6. There are still things that we do need to buy for a child that is growing bigger and bigger.

My sister is having her fist baby.. so there are items that we will be trying to help supplement. She's in VT and economically, her and her husband are probably going hit a rocky patch since he owns his own business. With so many homes, businesses, and even roads washed out, his auto shop is going to take a hit. Oil changes are cheap items. The bigger ticket items people will try to just push off. Winter is coming and a lot of people are going to be hit hard.. Shoot farmers just lost their harvest crops in many places.. that puts them in the financial hole now that they don't have a supply to send to market.

Anyway, I try to stay away from the cheap items. I try to make a lot of Christmas gifts because its more personal and nicer.. Afghan throw or sweater or quilted bags and spreads.. its just nicer.

[Peter1x9]

4. I saw yet another propaganda piece on today's ABC America This Morning news.

They had economists expecting 3.8% growth over the last holiday season.

Who are they trying to fool? By now things have gotten so bad that the average person in the street can see right through these "news" stories.

I could smell the bs from 10 miles away. lol