461,500. This is the number of new year-end seasonal jobs created in the U.S. retail sector in the fourth quarter of last year. It was the lowest figure since 2008, and forecasts suggest it will decrease even further this year.

These days, quite a few people around me are looking for year-end part-time positions. Some have college-aged children, while others are seeking weekend jobs because their main income is tight.

However, the atmosphere this year is definitely not the same as before. So, let's start by breaking down the numbers, and then I'll share some tips on how to actually secure a position.

The re-employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas projected in an early October report that retail hiring for the fourth quarter this year will be 450,000. This is a 2.5% decrease from last year's figures.

Last year's performance was already poor. Compared to 543,100 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2024, this represents a 15% decline.

For comparison, during the height of the financial crisis in 2008, there were 324,900 jobs. In contrast, over 900,000 jobs were available in 2020 and 2021.

Andy Challenger explained that this year's hiring is not about large-scale recruitment like in the past, but rather about selecting only as many as needed. Companies are relying more on existing employees and on-demand labor pools.

The National Retail Federation (NRF) has a similar outlook. NRF estimates this year's seasonal hiring will be between 325,000 and 375,000.

Interestingly, the sales outlook is not bad. NRF predicts that year-end sales in November and December will increase by 4.2% compared to last year, reaching $1.013 trillion.

This means that while sales are up, fewer people are being hired. NRF describes the current labor market as low hire, low fire, meaning companies are neither hiring nor letting go of employees easily.

Honestly, this point is a bit disheartening. It also implies that as sales increase, the workload for existing employees will intensify.

That said, there are still job openings. Amazon announced it plans to hire over 300,000 seasonal workers this year.

The average hourly wage for Amazon seasonal employees is $20, and the average total compensation, including benefits, exceeds $30 per hour. Job postings can be found directly at hiring.amazon.com.

UPS has also announced plans to hire 100,000 workers over the next few months. Remember that the companies making large hiring announcements are primarily in logistics and delivery rather than retail.

Let's take a look at the employment situation in the Atlanta area. According to Federal Reserve FRED data, the unemployment rate in the Atlanta metropolitan area rose slightly to 3.5% in September from 3.4% in August.

This figure is not seasonally adjusted, so it shouldn't be interpreted too broadly. However, it's safe to say that job competition is quite fierce.

So, how do you secure a part-time job in this market? I'll share the advice I give to those around me in order.

First, apply right away. Many companies are quietly hiring without making large announcements, so by November, remaining positions may fill up quickly.

Second, keep your availability as broad as possible. Indicating that you can work weekends, early mornings, evenings, and during Black Friday week will definitely give you an advantage in interviews.

Third, don't just look at retail positions; also consider warehouses and logistics. The work may be physically demanding, but the hiring volume is larger, so compare the hourly rates side by side.

Fourth, be sure to ask in the interview about the possibility of transitioning to a full-time position after the season ends. Regardless of the company, they tend to keep the best-performing employees.

Fifth, don't overlook Korean businesses like markets, restaurants, and gift shops that see a surge in customers during the year-end. These places often hire through personal referrals rather than online postings.

Before starting work, there are a few things to check. Georgia's minimum wage remains at $5.15, but the federal minimum wage of $7.25 applies to most workplaces.

Non-exempt employees who work over 40 hours a week are entitled to receive 1.5 times their hourly wage for overtime under federal law. Since work tends to pile up at year-end, be sure to keep an eye on your pay stubs.

Also, check whether you are a W-2 employee or a 1099 contractor. Gig jobs like those through delivery apps require you to handle your own taxes, which can result in less take-home pay than expected.

Be wary of any hiring contact that asks you to pay for equipment or training upfront. Legitimate companies do not ask for money before you start working.

Personally, I hope that as companies hire fewer people, fair working conditions are still guaranteed for seasonal employees. The convenience of year-end shopping ultimately rests on the shoulders of those working overnight.

If I were in your shoes, I would apply to two large logistics companies and two local stores simultaneously within this week. The narrower the door, the more likely it is that the first person to knock will get in.