Retailers Struggle to Fill Holiday Jobs: Openings Near Newton

Unemployment rates in Massachusetts are down in all labor markets from where they were a year ago, according to the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development.

A report issued Tuesday, showed the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 percent for the month of September, down 1 percent over the year.

If there’s a dark lining in that silver cloud, it’s that retailers in Massachusetts and nationwide are struggling to fill jobs for their busiest time of the year.

Big retail chains are dangling carrots like deep discounts for seasonal help. Kohl’s plans to hire 69,000 workers for the fourth-quarter bump in business that retailers typically see. Macy’s planned to add 85,000 seasonal workers, slightly below the number hired last year, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. planned to hire 60,000 seasonal workers and give its full-time workers a chance to pick up extra hours and Target planned to boost its payroll by 70,000 workers during the holidays.

Logistics companies like UPS, the world’s largest package delivery company, are going on a hiring spree, too. In September,UPS said it would hirenearly 100,000 part-time workers for the holiday season to keep up with the annual spike in demand for shipping.

Many of those seasonal jobs can be found in the area. Here are a few of them from the Newton Patch Jobs Board:

• Seasonal - Retail Sales - At Home - Natick Mall Nordstrom - Natick, MA
• Macy’s Seasonal Retail Sales Fragrance Specialist, Part Time: Natick Collection
• Seasonal Retail Opportunities NEWHarry & David - Natick, MAJob Description Description: Key Holder Requires performing the duties of a sales associate and in the absence of the Store Sales Manager or Assistant, being directly responsible...2 days ago from ZipRecruiter
• Seasonal Sales Professional NEWTiffany & Co - Natick, MAin service of this promise. Our Seasonal Sales Professionals will be responsible ... Required Qualifications: Previous retail or luxury retail experience or relevant..
• Associate (Seasonal) A.C Moore - Framingham, MAUnderstand the definitions and methods of retail shrink and comply with all Loss ... Previous retail and/or customer service experience preferred...
• Temporary Seasonal Perishables Positions BJ’s Wholesale Club - Hudson, MAABOUT THE COMPANY: At BJ’s, we put our Members FIRST. We take pride in knowing that we are doing all we can to show our Members they are appreciated. We care, and we want them to...

How to Find More Jobs

Follow these simple steps:

• Click on the PATCH JOBS BOARD at the top of your local Patch page.

• Type in a keyword that fits what kind of job you’re looking for.

• Use the “more filters” button to narrow your search by education, job type and company.

Photo by Peter Hilton via Flickr / Creative Commons