As the good news has been abound in Nebraska recently that the unemployment rate has dropped even further below September's 5% to 4.8% (a figure less than half that of many other states), others are still worried about unemployment during the hardest season of all - the holidays.
More than 18,700 people found employment in the Omaha metropolitan area during September - a figure which may have led many to believe that jobs are plentiful once more, but employers continue to be careful. Nebraska may be recovering, but many states and many industries continue to struggle, and for them the worst may not be over. As such, seasonal spending is expected to take a dip across all retail outlets this year, and a common way to save money is by cutting labor costs.
The Omaha World Herald recently wrote a piece about seasonal employment and found that those part-time postions that usually come available at this time of year may not be so plentiful this year. Not only are there fewer positions available, with twice as many job seekers applying, but the applicants are no longer just high-schoolers or college students. Instead, many candidates have recently lost their full-time employment or have had their hours or pay greatly reduced and so are hoping for anything that is available.
Take note job seekers - many retailers are still considering taking on new staff but aren't advertizing because they have had so many walk-in canidates. So if you are looking for a job this holiday season you have to get out there early!
