Holiday Jobs: 6 Companies Hiring Now

The upcoming holiday season will provide much-needed temp work for many unemployed Americans. While some retailers don't plan to hire as aggressively as last year, the overall temp hiring trend appears to be improving.

According to a new survey by job-search site SnagaJob, more than half of employers plan to hire hourly workers this holiday -- an increase of 8% since 2008. Each hiring manager, on average, expects to hire approximately 4 seasonal workers, a 5% increase over last year and a 32% jump from 2009.
If you're looking, the time to apply is now: About a third of retailers plan to start hiring in October. Here are a few of the companies that have announced seasonal hiring plans:

• Best Buy will reportedly add 15,000 workers to its stores nationwide ahead of the holiday shopping season. That pales in comparison to the 29,000 temp positions the electronics retailer created last winter, but we'll take what we can get.
• Macy's announced it will add 78,000 temp workers, a 4% increase from 2010.
• Toys "R" Us plans to hire more than 40,000 seasonal employees in it stores and distribution centers, in line with previous years. The temp positions have long-term potential: The company says 10% of last holiday's workforce are now employed at Toys"R" Us.
• ShutterFly, an online photo-sharing service, seeks to hire 600 seasonal employees, 100 more than last year. Wages are up to $12.50 an hour.
• Zappos is considering applicants for approximately 2,000 temporary jobs at its Shepherdsville, Ky., fulfillment center. Pay starts at $8.25 per hour.
• Omaha Steaks reportedly plans to hire 2,500 full-time and part-time seasonal workers. Pay is expected to be between $10 and $11 per hour.

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