The holiday season is just around the corner, and for some that means shopping fever at stores across the U.S.
The Target, in Sparks, plans to add 50 people to their staff, as the shopping season gets closer.
"What we would like to do through the fourth quarter is keep those team members with us afterward," Target Team Leader Sondra Martin said. "So, it's not just a seasonal job we're looking for. We're looking for great talent to come in and work in our stores."
Most of those positions are for part-time work, with a few full-time employees also needed.
Managers have already started going through applications.
"We'll start hiring here in the next couple of weeks, getting them ready, doing their background, employment history, that sort of stuff," Martin said. "So, that way they can actually start on October 7 and that will run all the way through January 7."
Kohl's Department Stores are getting ahead of the curve, opening up spots for more than 52,000 seasonal staff. That's 10% more seasonal workers than it hired last year. Kohl's anticipates hiring an average of 41 associates per store.
Seasonal associates can work anywhere from a few hours to more than 20 hours per week. Typical store jobs include unloading trucks, freight processing, stocking and cash register duties.
The retail chain unveiled the hiring drive as unemployment continues to plague the U.S. economy.
Halloween has also become one of the biggest holidays in terms of consumer spending, as many costume and prop stores have popped up all over the area.
Many of them started hiring in early August, which means about three months of work.
"We start with a blank building and we set up the way you see it right now," Spirit Halloween Store Manager George Chrisman said. "We get shipments in and training and we open the doors usually September 1."
About 40 people have gotten jobs at Spirit Halloween and about half of them have worked here in years past, meaning temporary employment is still in high demand as the economy recovers.
"I think it's still tough," Chrisman said. "Unfortunately, it's all over. Everyone is trying to work. Even if they have a job, they're looking for extra hours because the job they have, probably the money isn't quite there like they used to make."
Spirit Halloween also donates some of their earnings to the Childrens' Hospital at Renown.
Last year, they raised $15,000 for them.
Written by Paul Nelson
