Retail jobs in Chicago increase

Posted on November 29, 2011

According to a new survey, retail jobs in Chicago have burgeoned.

Hiring for the holidays was a sturdy predictor of retail sales, which were up dramatically this year.

Job ads were also up. Retailers placed more than 72,000 new online job ads for Salespersons and Sales Managers, according to WANTED Analytics.

According to the survey, online ad volume for this sector increased 44% compared to the same time period in 2010, 38% versus 2009, and 1% in comparison to 2008. However, hiring is still below pre-recession demand, down 11% from the same time period in 2007 when more than 81,000 jobs were advertised online during this two and a half month period. As holiday hiring continues and companies are optimistic about the sales season, job ads for seasonal and temporary positions are up 17% in comparison to the same time period during 2010.

The industries with the highest demand during this time period were Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores, Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers, Electronics and Appliance Stores, Health and Personal Care Stores, and Food and Beverage Stores. Combined, these five industries placed more than 50,000 job ads between September 1 and November 15.

Metropolitan areas with the highest hiring demand for retail Salespersons and Supervisors of Salespersons during this period were New York, Chicago, and Washington, DC. Employers and staffing firms within the retail sector in New York placed more than 3,800 new online job ads within the retail sector, the most of any city at a 25% year-over-year increase. Chicago also experienced a year-over-year increase of 93%, while Washington, DC declined about 2% from the same time in 2010.

This means retail jobs in Washington also experienced an increase.