Retail hiring surges in November

 

The retail industry had one of its biggest hiring gains of the year in November as retailers beefed up their ranks for the upcoming holidays.

According to the National Retail Federation, retail employment increased by 12,900 jobs in November over October. The NRF number excludes automobile dealers, gasoline stations and restaurants.

“You expect employment to be up during the holiday season and retailers are expecting strong holiday sales with related job growth, but overall growth in the economy has to be recognized here as well," said NRF chief economist Jack Kleinhenz. "We’re also seeing new jobs in other sectors of the economy, particularly industrial, and that means more demand for retail goods and a need for more retail workers.”

The November increase compares with a monthly loss of 10,300 jobs in October, which came after a monthly increase of 10,600 jobs in September. The three-month moving average in November showed an increase of 4,400 jobs.

With the numbers from November now in, retailers’ annual hiring of temporary holiday workers is on track to reach the high end of NRF’s forecast of between 500,000 and 550,000 positions. Employment increased in most retail sectors during November but there were decreases in electronics and appliances stores, clothing and clothing accessories stores, and non-store sales, which includes online sales.

Kleinhenz noted that retail job numbers reported by the Labor Department do not provide an accurate picture of the industry because they count only employees who work in stores while excluding retail workers in other parts of the business, including distribution centers. Warehouse and storage employment, for example, was up by 8,100 jobs in November but the positions do not count as retail jobs even if the workers are employed by retailers.