Macy's to hire 80K temporary holiday staffers

• Macy's holiday hiring plans are 2.5% above the number added last year
• Analysts study holiday hiring trends for clues to overall employment trends
• Stores typically hire for holidays starting in mid-September to mid-October

NEW YORK (AP) -- Macy's plans to hire about 80,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, a 2.5% increase from last year when the Cincinnati-based operator of Macy's and upscale Bloomingdale's hired 78,000 workers.

Macy's said Monday that the seasonal workers will be used to staff up not only its Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores, but also its call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers. Many of the positions will be part-time.

Macy's employs about 175,000 staffers on a year-round basis.

Analysts study the holiday hiring figures from retailers for clues about overall employment trends and sales expectations for the holiday season. Stores typically begin to hire for the holidays in mid-September and ramp up hiring in mid-October.

Toys R Us said last week that it plans to hire 45,000 seasonal workers to staff up its pop up stores and help fulfill its expanded customer service, like shipping online purchases to stores. That's nearly a 13% jump from the 40,000 seasonal workers the Wayne, N.J.-based company hired in 2011.

Wal-Mart Stores, in Bentonville, Ark., said last month it expects to hire more than 50,000 people this holiday season, up slightly from last year, and will be offering more hours to its existing employees.

In addition, department store operator Kohl's said last month it will be hiring more than 52,700 people, up more than 10% from last year. Kohl's, based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., also expects to hire 5,700 people for jobs at its distribution centers and 30 people for seasonal positions in its credit operations business.

Applications for seasonal positions at Macy's and Bloomingdale's are available at www.macysJOBS.com and www.bloomingdalesJOBS.com. Hiring for store sales positions will begin in mid-October. The company has already started hiring for distribution centers, call centers and store receiving.

In morning trading Monday, Macy's shares gained $1.03, or 2.7%, to $38.64.