Retail: Seasonal Hiring

Industry Insights | June 6, 2022 | 3 minutes read

Welcome

Retailers are ready to hire as the economy recovers and consumers return to retail shopping after the pandemic slow-down. Yet “help wanted” signs on shopfronts are commonplace as the labor shortage continues to hamper the availability of workers.

In response, retailers are increasing benefits to attract new hires, including higher pay and incentives such college tuition assistance, hiring bonuses, and quick access to earned pay. Many companies are even rethinking traditional hiring and recruitment processes by expanding the seasonal hiring cycle, exploring digital recruitment, and hiring for skills, not experience.

Get a head start on seasonal hiring

Timely Solutions for Retail. A Practical Guide to Increasing Employee Productivity and Improving Retention

The Retail Industry Facts

Traditional retail shopping will remain strong, fueling the need for workers:

72% of US retail sales will still occur in brick-and-mortar stores through 2024
47% of consumers say they shop in-store to test products and 38% like to walk away with an item after purchasing

Consumers like to make returns in physical stores, so customer service is key:

Over half of respondents in a recent Forrester survey say they prefer in-store returns
Total returns account for over $761 billion in lost sales for US retailers
For every $1 billion sales, the average retailer incurs $166 million in returns
For every $100 in returned merchandise accepted, retailers lose $10.30 to return fraud

Holidays are for celebrating—and for shopping

Celebrating with loved ones is a time-honored way to spend the holidays—but seasonal events are also a time to shop! An NRF survey explored consumer spending on holidays and found that Back-to-College and Winter Holidays are consistently strong, while one-day holidays like Mother’s Day and Easter are also significant. Here’s how the holidays stack up:

Source: National Retail Federation

Is Digital on the Menu?

Last year, concerns about supply chain shortages led consumers to start their holiday shopping early. Many shoppers say they always like to get a head start and avoid the stress of last-minute shopping.
Will this trend continue in 2022?

What Seasonal Retail Employees Want

Over the last two years, hiring in the retail industry has hit two extremes. The early days of the pandemic resulted in hiring freezes and layoffs, while economic recovery led to a market where unfilled job openings rose in 2021 to 10 million, exceeding the 9.5 million reported to be unemployed.

Today, “The Great Resignation” continues and the competition for workers is fierce. To attract talent, retailers find themselves focusing on the employee experience as much as the consumer experience. Here are some ideas to stand out in a competitive market:

The Big Picture

Retailers can attract seasonal talent by casting a wide net when it comes to finding potential workers and offering a range of employee benefits:

Get social. Don’t overlook the power of social media to spread the word about job opportunities and benefits.
Reconsider your approach to benefits. What perks could help you attract the talent that’s right for your company? Tuition assistance is attractive to college students, while a more mature worker may place more value on a flexible schedule.
Consider employee needs. Many workers take seasonal jobs to earn extra money for holiday expenses. Offering on-demand pay is often a valued perk.
Make it fun. Sometimes, seasonal retail work requires long hours and even some stressful situations during peak times. Stress teamwork and let employees know you appreciate their efforts.