Macy’s Inc. is looking for fewer seasonal employees for the upcoming holiday season than it brought on board last yr.

The retailer said it plans to rent for greater than 38,000 full- and part-time seasonal positions this upcoming holiday season at its Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury stores, in addition to its distribution centers. In 2022, Macy’s Inc. hired roughly 41,000 seasonal holiday positions.

Within the announcement Monday, Macy’s characterised this yr’s variety of seasonal positions as “consistent with open positions in 2022.”

But retailers could be expected to be hiring fewer people this yr for several reasons. First, they’ve modest expectations for sales during holiday 2023, seen starting from single-digit declines to single-digit gains, depending on the retailer. Second, labor costs are going up.

Also, the labor market has been tight and filling retail positions is being complicated by rising crime on the selling floors, particularly by organized “smash and grab” gangs, putting some retail employees in harm’s way.

Last week, Reuters reported that for holiday 2023, U.S. retailers will hire the bottom variety of seasonal employees for the reason that 2008 Great Recession, based on a report received from Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The news agency reported that retailers are expected so as to add just 410,000 seasonal jobs this season, or barely above the 324,900 hired in the course of the last quarter of 2008. The report, which utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, also noted that U.S. retailers added 519,400 jobs within the last quarter of 2022, which was a 26 percent decline from the corresponding 2021 period.

The fourth quarter is a very powerful a part of the yr for sales and profits for many retailers, so staffing up at the moment is critical. Macy’s holiday season will likely be fueled by pumped-up gift offerings in beauty; merchandising revolving across the one centesimal anniversary of Disney; the brand new Toys R Us in-store shops, which were rolled out last yr through your entire chain, and the “On thirty fourth” private brand collection, unveiled last month. Cashmere, advantageous jewelry, housewares and textiles are expected outperformers for holiday. In beauty, gift offerings will represent 40 percent of the offering within the fourth quarter, from 30 percent the remaining of the yr.

Macy’s sales trends have been negative this yr and are usually not expected to show positive until 2024.

“The vacations are one in every of Macy’s Inc.’s most significant seasons to deliver a fantastic shopping experience for our customers and our colleagues are the corporate’s best brand ambassadors at this special time of yr,” Danielle Kirgan, Macy’s Inc. chief transformation and human resources officer, said in an announcement. “We’re pleased to boost our team of customer support professionals in the course of the holidays with greater than 38,000 seasonal positions. Whether or not they are searching for extra income for the season or the beginning of a latest profession in retail, we provide an unmatched culture, competitive pay and fulfilling retail profession opportunities.”

Job seekers can apply online at macysJOBS.com, bloomingdalesJOBS.com and bluemercury.com. They may also apply in person by visiting any Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s or Bluemercury store for Sept. 21 and Oct. 19 holiday hiring events, for on-the-spot interviews.

Candidates all in favour of supply chain positions can apply online or in-person in the course of the special hiring events by visiting Macy’s Inc.’s distribution centers situated in Cheshire, Conn.; Goodyear, Ariz.; Martinsburg, W.V.; Portland, Tenn., and Tulsa, Okla.

Macy’s Inc. said that the corporate offers “the pliability to administer work and life while pursuing exciting and fulfilling profession opportunities. Nearly one third of store leadership began their careers with the corporate in the course of the holiday season.”

The corporate also said it offers “competitive pay” with many positions starting at a minimum of $15 an hour, fast access to earned wages, flexible scheduling including regular and optional extra time shifts, a merchandise discount, possible eligibility to earn referral bonuses of as much as $500 for each friend and member of the family they recruit to affix Macy’s Inc., and possible incremental income through various incentive programs.

The retailer indicated that each one of its stores and distribution centers have seasonal jobs available, but probably the most job openings are at: