take KARE of your MONEY: Holiday Hiring

In mid-October, the word came down to employees and the public alike. It was the best news from Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn on the company's website.

"We are hiring more people this year for seasonal sales than we did last year...We are trusting the trends that we're seeing and we're investing labor commensurate with those trends."

Best Buy spokespeople will not define "more" in actual numbers of holiday season helpers, but an increase anywhere is welcomed by Minnesota employment experts. Steven Hine, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Security Research Director, tells KARE 11 that Minnesota's "normal" 4th quarter seasonal employment is 10-12,000 jobs. In 2008, that figure was "slightly less than 4,800." Hine does not see any significant state-wide improvement in 2009.

"And if what we are considering now is whether we a're going to be better or worse than last year, the answer has to be that it is not going to be a strong year under any set of circumstances."

Hine does see some hope of that changing, if Minnesotans who are still working begin to increase holiday spending. He says seasonal hiring depends in large part on seasonal sales. "We have seen over the last few years that retailers are often delaying that holiday hiring until perhaps late November or December, rather than in October."

Ridgedale Target store manager Rob Ruitten intends to hire approximately 50 seasonal workers. "Just like any other year, we look at the sales forecast, look at our current staffing, give them the option to pick up the extra hours."

Ruitten says the additional hours and staffing is needed to accommodate customers during the store's longer holiday hours. He sees little difference in his store's holiday hiring in 2009 (as compared to 2008). "Very similar to last year. I think we hired about 35-40. So, a little bit higher than forecast this year, but, probably looking at the same numbers."

Target stores do not release hiring numbers for the entire chain, but expect it to mimic the Ridgedale store in that the additional staffing will resemble that in 2008.

There is the hope, as reflected in websites like CareerBuilder. com, that at least maintaining the same level of seasonal hiring in 2009 as in 2008 rather than further cuts could mean that the economic "Grinch" is finally losing his grip this Christmas. Hines thinks some of the old Holiday spending attitude could rescue some retail jobs.

"Possibly better than last year because people that are employed do have some improved level of confidence generally speaking, that they're gonna be able to keep their job, you know, beyond Christmas."

As a result, Hines thinks their spending might increase and demand for seasonal labor might rise.  For some holiday job search tips check out this website.

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