A Hire Calling

As we get closer to the Christmas shopping season, retailers are scrambling to fill temporary employment positions in a tight job market.

Sears officials say they are recruiting workers from schools, job fairs and government programs, such as Welfare to Work. “We’ve been on probably 20 or 30 college campuses,” said Nancy Meraz, human resource manager. “There’s a sense of urgency because of the tight labor market.”

Locally, Sears will beef up its sales force by 20%, she said.

“They are challenged in the Orange County area to find workers,” said Paula Davis, Sears’ holiday hiring specialist. “But we’re confident we’ll get there.”

Leslie Earnest covers retail businesses and restaurants for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7832 and at leslie.earnest@latimes.com.