Holiday shoppers get ready for waits

During the 2021 holiday season supply chain issues caused holiday shopping plans to fumble and caused delivery and production delays across many industries. While several retailers have said they will not increase hiring for the 2022 holiday season, due to economic uncertainty on how consumer spending will fare, seasonal hiring at last year’s levels is still in effect.  

Companies Hiring Seasonal Workers

For example, Amazon and UPS have matched last year’s seasonal hiring projections in several states around the country. Seasonal workers play a big role in the holiday shopping season for every industry, from restaurants to tourism. In San Diego, SeaWorld and Sesame Place San Diego will add 200 to 300 seasonal workers, according to spokeswoman for the theme parks, Mary Hamula. 

Target, Walmart and Nordstrom are hiring across the nation. Most pressing is the United States Post Office (USPS) urgently hiring 28,000 seasonal employees and 1,000 truck drivers nationwide to manage the expected increase in package deliveries on time.  

Unfortunately, employers are struggling to find applicants. Tammy Underhill, regional sales manager at Coastal Staffing, which helps people find jobs, said she's noticed a decline in applicants. "In this season, we should be seeing an average of 20 to 30 people walking in the door, and now we are lucky if we get 10 a week," she said. 

Seasonal Workers Still Needed

Locally owned businesses are struggling as well, unable to compete with national retailers or chains that can pay holiday bonuses or higher hourly wages. A survey by Verint found that 94 percent of local retailers in New York City plan to hire workers for the holiday season, but 60 percent of respondents said they’re challenged to find candidates.  Customers will certainly feel this short staffing during their shopping, dining, or travel plans.  

Improved immigration reform, specifically for seasonal workers to live in the U.S. temporarily, would greatly alleviate these staffing issues now- and in the future. It is well known that immigrants are hard workers, helping build our nation through the centuries and often working nights, weekends, or holidays. As the U.S. population continues to age and birth rates continue to decrease, the impending need for immigrants for more than just seasonal jobs becomes obvious.  

Communities and citizens can make a difference by supporting citizenship efforts, like OPA’s. Our immigration loans ensure that immigrants can complete the U.S. citizenship application at once or complete an immigration process. Learn how to become a donor or investor and help an eligible immigrant already in your community today.