Shorter Seasonal Jobs

Christmas-season jobs may last for a shorter time this year. For a few years there was a trend for large companies to try to employ seasonal workers for nearly the entire fourth quarter. It rarely worked out that way, with work slowing in December and layoffs starting two weeks before Christmas. This time the largest seasonal employers plan to hire slightly more temporary workers, but for a shorter time. Many workers will have their jobs for only one month, from mid November to mid December. One reason for the shortened season is the worry that shoppers distracted by the presidential election may not start their Christmas shopping until November 11, the Friday after the election. The smaller number of jobs that last for a quarter will mostly be out of reach for walk-ons. Those positions will be reserved for workers returning from previous years.