Oregon Could See A Rise In Holiday Hiring

From September through December, Oregon could add as many as 12,000 jobs in seasonal holiday hiring, a 4.4 percent increase from 2005.

Salem-News.com

(SALEM) - Oregon has enjoyed a steady and strong economy in 2006, and that should continue through the holiday hiring season, according to economists from the WorkSource Oregon Employment Department.

From September through December, Oregon could add as many as 12,000 jobs in seasonal holiday hiring, a 4.4 percent increase from 2005.

"This level of retail holiday hiring would still be below the seasonal retail gains in the rapid-job-growth years of 1996 through 2000," said Art Ayre, state employment economist, "However, all indications are that Oregon should see a healthy gain in holiday hiring over a year ago."

WorkSource Oregon Employment Department measures the growth in holiday hiring by looking at six retail-related sectors: food and beverage stores; clothing and clothing accessories stores; sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores; general merchandise stores; miscellaneous store retailers; and non-store retailers.

Non-retail industries that are known to hire during the holidays include: Christmas tree farms (in the nursery and floriculture production industry); U.S. Post Office; couriers and messengers; and winter sports areas. Job growth September through December in these industries give the department a picture of holiday hiring in the state.

WorkSource Oregon Employment Department has offices throughout the state to help businesses and job seekers with seasonal employment needs.

Several holiday job fair events are scheduled throughout the state, and those events are listed on the department's Web site www.WorkingInOregon.org. The Web site also lists contact information for the WorkSource Oregon office nearest you.