(NAPSI)—With historically low unemployment and a strong economy, retailers are expecting a huge shopping season this year, with the National Retail Federation forecasting holiday retail sales in November and December—excluding automobiles, gasoline and restaurants—to increase between 4.3 and 4.8 percent over 2017. That compares with an average annual increase of 3.9 percent over the past five years.
If you’re looking for a full-time or part-time job with flexible hours for the next few months, that could mean great news for you.
Where The Jobs Are
For one thing, there are plenty of seasonal job openings in shops—about 650,000, according to the National Retail Federation. That’s in addition to the estimated 15 million already holding retail jobs.
Another seasonal position you may care to consider: store Santa Claus. Some can earn as much as $20,000 during the holidays. But it’s a sedentary job.
Another more active option: There are 100,000 good jobs now available at thousands of UPS locations around the country.
That’s because, to support the anticipated increase in package volume it sees in November and through January, UPS is looking to hire seasonal employees. What’s more, over a third of them can expect to be offered permanent jobs once the season is over.
“Every year, we deliver the holidays for millions of customers,” said Jim Barber, chief operating officer. “In order to make that happen, we also deliver thousands of great seasonal jobs at our facilities across the country.”
Jobs To Careers
The full- and part-time seasonal positions—primarily package handlers, drivers and driver-helpers—have long been an entry point for permanent employment at UPS. Many senior UPS executives, including Chief Executive Officer David Abney and other members of the company’s senior leadership team, started their UPS careers as part-time employees.
Big Benefits
Permanent UPS jobs—including part-time jobs—come with great pay and benefits, including health care and retirement benefits. Many part-time employees are eligible to receive up to $25,000 in tuition assistance through the company’s Earn and Learn program.
For example, there’s Kevin Whitehill. He was a college student when he started a seasonal job as a part-time package handler on his 19th birthday—Nov. 19, 1996. He worked part-time for several years and took advantage of UPS’s tuition reimbursement program to get his degree. Twenty-two years later, he’s an on-road supervisor managing tractor-trailer drivers. “I never intended UPS to be a career,” he said. “I took a job for Christmas. As I moved along, the opportunities were just too good to pass up.”
How To Apply
Interested job seekers can easily apply for holiday season opportunities by visiting www.UPSjobs.com. Applicants must apply online. Videos featuring employees describing their work experience at UPS are also available at the UPS jobs website.
“UPS is looking to hire 100,000 seasonal employees and over a third of them can expect to be offered permanent jobs. http://bit.ly/2qJes3b”