(November 12, 2008)-- Retailers are receiving a barrage of applications for holiday jobs this year and the competition is stiff for fewer positions than in past years.

Last year, retailers scrambled to fill temporary holiday positions, but this year they’re turning away applicants in droves.

Bealls Outlet Stores is hiring just one out of every 45 people who apply.

A California 7-Eleven store received more than 100 applications in a week and a half, for jobs that pay $8.50 an hour.

The applicants are the usual teens or stay-at-home moms looking for some extra cash for holiday gift buying.

This year may are workers who have been laid off and are desperate for a way to pay the bills.

They're applying for work, however, in an industry that is drastically cutting back on holiday hiring because of the drop-off in consumer spending.

A Michigan woman who was laid off along with her husband from an automotive industry job has been applying for part-time jobs at Toys 'R' Us, Home Depot and Lowes.

Kimberly Caparo says said thought it would be "pretty easy,” but discovered that "there are thousands of us going for the same thing."

[CentralTexasVotes.com: Candidates, Campaigns And More ]
[More Local And State News]
[More National News]
[More Business News]
[Latest Religion News]
[Latest Health News]
[Latest Entertainment News]
[OffBeat News]
[News From Our Town]
[Latest Soldier Stories]
[Sports]
[Weather]
[Blogs]





Save some money! Save a tree! Get your morning news delivered directly to your email