TYLER (KYTX) - Jobless rates are still above 8 percent across the country, but there maybe a temporary light at the end of the tunnel with seasonal hiring that has started for some stores now, and will really get going in October.
Before you can go trick or treating for Halloween, businesses like the Potpourri house in Tyler are already gearing up for bigger holidays, like Christmas, and that means more hours from the sales floor to the kitchen.
The stockings were hung on the sales rack with care inside the Potpourri House in Tyler, with 101 days to go until Santa makes his stop.
"The first two Christmas' there was nothing between them, then last year I was able to stay the rest of the year," says Angie McDonald.
McDonald was hired as a seasonal employee, twice, before snagging a permanent position.
This year the job market across the country hasn't made vast improvements, but according to a survey from a consulting firm, the Hay Group, major retailers are expecting more seasonal hires than in years past.
"The whole month of October we're literally decorating for Christmas," says Les Ellsworth, the Potpourri House owner.
Ellsworth says they usually hire up to 15 extra employees and increase hours for several others just to keep up when the trees go up.
"We're going to need to hire servers just to do the number of parties reserved for the restaurant alone," says Ellsworth.
He's looking to increase from the wait staff to the cashiers with the increase in business.
McDonald says her mom is even a holiday worker at the store.
"I think a lot of people are looking for that, to have that little bit of extra money to do Christmas shopping," says McDonald.
Whether the money is needed to extras, or to pay bills, it all comes down to who's hiring and who maybe keeping workers around.
"I think when you come in for the holidays, it's usually holiday work, but then it's possible they'll keep you," says McDonald.
Of course many people are hoping those jobs turn into something beyond Christmas and become permanent after the holidays.
Now we just wait until the hiring binge in October.
Start looking for 'now hiring' signs to pop up in windows all across East Texas.
You have a better chance of snagging a job if you're flexible with your work schedule, enthusiastic, knowledgeable about the company, and obviously experienced in the field.
