Retailers added 137,200 jobs in October, 18% more than the 115,900 jobs Retailers added in October of 2018, according to an analysis of non-seasonally adjusted data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from global outplacement and executive and business coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
Meanwhile, jobs added in Transportation and Warehousing, an industry that has seen increased hiring activity around the holidays in the last few years, fell 17%, to 43,700 from 52,900 jobs added in the same month last year.
“We do not typically see the bulk of new seasonal jobs until November, so it remains to be seen what retailers and fulfillment centers will do this month. The jobs report the government issued on Friday was positive, and consumers continue to spend,” said Andrew Challenger, Vice President of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.
