Macy's to hire 83,000 seasonal hires

CINCINNATI Department store operator Macy's Inc. (M) says it plans to hire about 83,000 seasonal hires for the bustling holiday season, up 3.8 percent from 80,000 hired last year.

The seasonal workers will work in Macy's stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers.

Coming off a slower-than-expected back-to-school season, analysts and stores are bracing for a tough holiday shopping period, which accounts for as much as 40 percent of stores' annual revenue. Analysts study the holiday hiring figures from retailers for clues about overall employment trends and sales expectations for the holiday season.

As online sales rise, Macy's says more of the seasonal workers have been enlisted to work at online fulfillment centers. This year, about 6,600 workers will work in those centers and 1,200 seasonal positions will be assigned to work in the fulfillment areas of 500 Macy's stores that fill and ship orders directly to customers.

Most seasonal positions are part time. Some temporary works may be offered permanent positions, Macy's said.

Macy's has about 175,000 staffers in total.

Other retailers have begun to outline seasonal hiring plans as well. Toys R Us plans to hire 45,000 seasonal workers at its stores and distribution centers, the same number as last year, as it ramps up for the holiday season.

Wal-Mart Stores is hiring 55,000 seasonal workers and is elevating 35,000 temporary workers to part-time status and 35,000 part-time workers to full-time jobs.

Target Corp. said it plans to hire 70,000 workers, a 20 percent drop from a year ago, as it tries to be more efficient in its hiring practices. And department-store operator Kohl's Corp. said last week that it plans to hire about 53,000 seasonal workers for the holiday season, slightly more than last year.