Seasonal job outlook

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WARREN - Those looking for a seasonal job for the holidays will need a lot of determination.

And a little luck.

A high unemployment rate and sour economy have combined to lower the amount of jobs available for people looking for jobs.

Still, experts say jobs are available.

The most recent Ohio unemployment figures was 7.2 percent in September, indicating about 434,000 Ohioans were out of work.

The number of unemployed has increased by 93,000 in the last 12 months from 341,000. The September unemployment rate for Ohio was up from 5.7 percent in September 2007.

And as Ohio's unemployment figures continue to rise, businesses like Circuit City, DHL, General Motors, Republic Steel and others are either reducing their number of employees or closing altogether.

Although its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month, the Circuit City store in Niles dodged the bullet and is one of just 17 Ohio stores that will remain open. Eleven other Ohio stores are closing.

''We still still are hiring seasonal helpers,'' said Jim Babb, a spokesman with Circuit City. ''This is traditionally the busiest time of year for retail stores, so we are bringing in workers to help with the increased business.''

Babb does not know how many workers will be needed at the Niles store or how long they will be needed.

''We started taking applications at circuitcity.com in late October for seasonal workers,'' Babb said. ''Each store determines how many worker they need.''

Seasonal jobs at the electronics store can range from cashiers to sales associates to making sure the shelves are always stocked.

Mary Beth DiPaolo, regional vice president of the Youngstown-based Callos Personnel Services, says the economy has not eliminated seasonal job opportunities in the area, but jobs are harder to find when compared to what was available at this time in 2007.

''We are seeing more people coming in looking at fewer available jobs,'' she said. ''We're definitely seeing that more people having been struggling in this economy. The number of applicants for jobs have increased and many are more willing to take types of jobs and pay they were not willing to consider in the past.''

Callos began seeing an increase of people looking for seasonal jobs in October. It expects to continue recruiting for these seasonal positions through December.

A survey by SnagAJob.com, a Richmond, Va.-based employment agency, of 1,000 American managers who have responsibility for hiring hourly workers finds that each manager, on average, plans to hire about 33 percent fewer seasonal workers than they hired last year.

About 43 percent of seasonal workers will work full-time. The rest will work about 20 hours a week, all for an average pay of $10 an hour.

Cathy McCarthy, a SnagAJob.com senior vice president, says people looking for work need to be flexible and open to looking at different non-retail opportunities.

''Employers are looking for people who are willing to work the schedules they need and are willing to work through the entire holiday season,'' McCarthy said.

The opportunity also may be there for those with hopes of turning a seasonal job into something more permanent.

Employers say they expect nearly half of the seasonal hires to continue on the payroll in 2009.

Debbie Yeager, a co-owner of Storyland Christmas Farm in Burghill, already hired the seven employees the farm will use this holiday season.

''We're hiring about three college and four high school students,'' Yeager said. ''We never have any trouble finding seasonal workers. All of the people we're hiring this year have worked for us before.''

But Yeager has other concerns this year.

She said she is hoping the tough economy will not slow visitors to her shop. Christmas tree sales begin in earnest the day after Thanksgiving, she said.

Carl Leveto, an owner of Handyman Hardware on U.S. 422, expects to hire only two employee at that store and maybe two to three others at the family's other Handyman Hardware locations.

''I don't prescribe to the seasonal hiring philosophy,'' said Dan Greene, a manager at the Office Max in Niles Great East Plaza. ''I try to hire people to work all year round.''

rsmith@tribtoday.com