More retailers predict holiday hiring increase

Retailers nationwide and locally are beginning to make plans for hiring holiday workers, and early projections show a slight increase from last year.

Kohl’s announced plans to hire nearly 53,000 temporary holiday workers on Tuesday, that’s an increase of about 10 percent compared to 2011.

According to a recent survey of retailers by Hay Group, 75 percent of retailers expect to see an increase in holiday sales this year. Though 57 percent of retailers plan to hire the same number of holiday workers as they did in 2011, this year there are more retailers (36 percent) planning for an increase in holiday workers.

That’s encouraging for part-time job seekers like Sara Stone of Indianapolis.

"I just knew I wanted to try to bring in a few extra dollars and I thought the holidays would be a great time to do it," said Stone, who applied for a holiday job at the Container Store in Indianapolis.

Stone worked for Sallie Mae for 20 years but lost her job in 2008. She now has her own small business and works at a discount store full time, but like many Americans she's hoping retailers are looking to hire holiday workers, so she can add some part-time income.

"This is really the first holiday job I've really applied for and looked for so I don't know,” Stone said. “I haven't tried anyplace else yet."

The Container Store opened an Indianapolis location last October, and they are now looking to hire 10-15 seasonal employees from October to February. They’ll take on another 8-10 overnight employees for a 10-day stretch around Christmas and New Year’s.

The Container Store didn’t share its national hiring plans, but local managers said the holiday hiring is a reflection of the demand they’ve seen in Indianapolis.

"It's been a wonderful year so far and we're just seeing that trend continue to follow through all the way through the fourth quarter," said Lisa Ritter, general manager for the local Container Store.

Stone said it's enough to give her hope in the economy after a tough couple of years.

"I'm seeing more jobs come up on job boards and so it seems a little bit more encouraging,” Stone said. “Let's hope so."