Retailers are hiring holiday-season workers earlier than usual and they’re facing more competition in today’s tight labor market.
According to data from indeed.com, retailers, warehouses and logistics firms that rely on seasonal workers started posting jobs in August, a month earlier than usual, the Wall Street Journal reports. Indeed economist Jed Kolko says this means firms are anticipating “stronger consumer demand and expect that it will be harder to find the people they want to hire.”
Analysts and companies say the holiday season is starting before Halloween for many shoppers, much earlier than the traditional day after Thanksgiving. At the same time, with unemployment holding around 5%, there are fewer workers available than in past years. [WSJ]
