Retailers expect to add 7,800 holiday season jobs

Retailers in the state expect to add 7,800 seasonal jobs this holiday season, the Retail Association of Nevada says.

That would be in line with the holiday hiring last year, which was up 2.6 percent over 2011.

During the past five years, Nevada’s retail sector added an average of 5,800 jobs to meet holiday season demands between September and the end of December.

The 7,800 number is in line with the approximately 7,900 jobs added in 2007, just before the recession.

Among the largest seasonal hires announced by Nevada retailers so far, Amazon leads with plans to bring on 2,979 more workers. Macy’s is second with an estimated 885 hires and Target third at 748. Others include 554 more at Kohl’s, 595 at Walmart and 607 by Toys ‘R’ Us.

Numerous much smaller retailers also will add staff.

Seasonal hiring might be affected by the three-week government shutdown and debt-ceiling debate if those factors damage consumer confidence during the rest of this year, RAN President Mary Lau said.

“If declining confidence impacts consumers’ holiday plans, this could affect the number of seasonal employees ultimately hired this holiday season,” she said. “However, we are still early enough in the season to remain hopeful. Provided a resolution to the shutdown is reached soon, we could witness holiday hiring close to pre-recession levels for the third year straight.”