Major American retailer Macy’s Inc, which runs both Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s department stores, plans to hire 80,000 seasonal employees this year, or a 2.6% increase from 2011 when 78,000 people were hired.
The retailer plans to offer positions at distribution, fulfillment and call centers as well as for in-store operations and sales. Hiring has already begun, but the sales associate positions are yet to be filled. The majority of the seasonal positions are part time.
Macy’s employees 175,000 staff on a year-round basis.
So far during 2012, Macy’s has outperformed its key competitors JC Penney and Kohl’s, with sales at stores open at least one fiscal year up nearly 4% during the first half of 2012. Macy’s expects to see a similar rise for the second half.
Other US Retailers Also Hiring
In addition to Macy’s, other American retailers are also hiring more temporary workers this year than in 2011. Retailers typically begin hiring holiday workers in September, and hiring is at its peak in mid-October.
In September, Toys R Us announced it will hire 45,000 employees, or a nearly 13% increase on hiring numbers in 2011. The new positions will be in customer service and pop-up stores.
Walmart, too, plans to hire another 50,000 employees, marking a slight increase from last year. In addition, the retailer will offer more hours to existing employees.
Kohl’s said in September it will add 52,700 employees, a 10% increase. It will also hire an additional 5,730 people for its credit operations business and distribution centers.
Analysts use hiring figures to make predictions about holiday sales expectations and overall employment trends. This year’s hiring increase indicates consumer spending is recovering gradually.
Key Statistics - US Apparel Retail Industry (source: MarketLine)
- In 2011, the apparel retail industry in the US had revenue totaling over $329 billion. For the timeframe 2007-2011, this represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 3%.
- In 2011, the US retail industry's most lucrative segment was women’s wear. This segment had revenue totaling more than $170 billion, equivalent to nearly 52% of the industry's overall value.
- For the period 2011-2016, the industry’s performance is predicted to accelerate, with a CAGR of over 3% is anticipated. By the end of 2016, the industry is expected to be valued at $384 billion.
