From customer service to warehouse positions to delivery drivers – 2022 seasonal hiring is in full swing with employers dashing to fill open positions in time for the holiday rush. The pressure is on: An NRF survey of 2,000 consumers conducted in late September found that 62% of holiday shoppers agree that it is important to spend on holiday gifts and celebrations.
Approximately thirty-one million people or about 20 percent of U.S. employees — work in the retail and hospitality sectors. Retail employment has increased by more than 800,000 in the last two years and is up more than 2.5 million since the peak of the pandemic. One of the number one reasons for working in these sectors is flexibility, especially in selecting the days and times when they work. It’s no surprise that retail is particularly attractive to individuals balancing work and school or family care. Plus, rising inflation has led some individuals to take on second jobs; yet, given multiple talent pools, retailers still regularly face the challenge of replacing more than half of their store staff every year.
There are also immovable calendar-driven, peak-shopping events that impact business outcomes. For example, many retailers report that most of their revenues are generated during the holiday season. Capturing and converting holiday foot traffic into sales is crucial and can make or break both Q4 and annual results for many retailers.
So, while speed is of the essence when recruiting and hiring frontline employees who can make a difference in customer satisfaction, no organization can afford to take shortcuts and compromise screening job candidates.
With significant tension to grow already lean post-pandemic teams to address short-term requirements and drive long-term positive outcomes, seasonal hiring necessitates partnering with a solutions provider that can combine speed and effectiveness.
First Advantage offers applicant background checks and screening solutions for every type of business. From small, mid-market to enterprise and large global organizations – and for every industry: retail, hospitality, healthcare, financial services, higher education, non-profits, and many more – First Advantage enables companies to Hire Smarter and Onboard Faster.
