Several Industries Start Hiring Seasonal Employees
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Starting in October, companies will add tens of thousands of seasonal employees, and often those temporary jobs turn into permanent ones.
Yolanda Mayrant had a job running a non-profit for senior citizens, but over the summer it ended when she says city funding for it dried up. So she attended a career fair in Midtown with hundreds of other job seekers, CBS2's Dave Carlin reported.
"I do believe that one door closes. Definitely another one opens," she said.
Mayrant is looking for a job as companies are putting a call out for people who are willing to take seasonal work in various industries.
As for the big retailers, Amazon will add 120,000 to its force nationwide, UPS 95,000, Macy's 83,000 and Target 70,000.
And they aren't the only ones hiring.
"Seasonal hiring is not just related to the retail like some people think. It's hospitality, it's healthcare, it's even in administrative areas," workplace expert Stephen Viscusi told Carlin.
A seasonal job can even turn into a permanent one. Experts say it happens about 50 percent of the time.
"Whether you're 25 or 55, a seasonal job is your number one way to get back into the workforce today," Viscusi said.
The fastest growing segment of seasonal workers are people in their 40s and 50s. Experts say that's because the average age of the unemployed keeps rising.
Mayrant hopes to work in homeless outreach or something in public health.
"I feel encouraged," she said.
Julia Anelli was also at the career fair. She previously owned two small businesses but now craves the relative stability of working for someone else.
"I feel like I have a lot to offer," she said.
She strives to be an administrative assistant and work her way up.
She said her key to starting all over again will be to "be open to meeting new people and persevere."
Experts say job seekers should get out and network, but also do lots of research online and fill out applications beforehand.
