Working Iowa: Holiday hiring push ahead of shopping rush

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – It’s Halloween week which means the holiday season is right around the corner and companies are trying to hire fast.

“There’s definitely right now a race to hire,” says Peggy Stover, Director of the Marketing Institute at the University of Iowa.

The National Retail Federation says shoppers are expected to spend $902 dollars on average between gifts, food, and other seasonal items.

“According to the National Retail Federation the spending trend, as far as a whole, is expected to increase slightly this year. So anywhere between two and a half and three and a half percent, so, definitely going into a good holiday season,” Stover said.

Ahead of the rush, large retailers like Amazon and Target are already hiring for thousands of season positions.

“Right now there is definitely a boom to hire seasonal workers. It’s expected anywhere between 400- 500,000 seasonal workers will be hired this holiday season,” Stover explained.

She says people interested in those jobs should start applying now.

“Thanksgiving does fall later in the month so the holidays shopping season is a little shorter this year,” Stover said.

While you may be spending a little more this holiday season there are plenty of opportunities to make some cash to get presents under the tree.

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