Why stores are struggling to find extra staff to help with the holiday rush
The Retail Council of Canada says nearly half of Manitobans will start their holiday shopping as early as Remembrance Day weekend, but a new hiring trend report suggests many stores won’t be adequately staffed to handle the holiday rush.
Indeed.ca’s report, released Wednesday, shows seasonal postings in Canada are up 28 per cent compared to last year, and up 40 per cent from 2019’s pre-pandemic levels.
"Across Manitoba, labour shortages continue to be an issue for all sectors,” Retail Council of Canada’s John Graham told CTV News Thursday. “Particularly this time of year, where stores get busier, retailers are working hard to ensure they have the staff levels they need."
Graham, RCC’s prairies director for government relations, partially attributes the shortage to fewer seniors and teenagers looking for seasonal jobs.
"Those groups play a really important role in helping support the needs of retails this time of year."
Manitobah, best known for their mukluks and moccasins, is among stores in Winnipeg looking to fill seasonal roles.
The apparel and footwear brand is on the hunt for three part-time retail ambassadors for its flagship store at The Forks.
"Some of the challenges we’re seeing are there are more jobs than there are people,” Manitobah’s marketing coordinator Lor Brand told CTV News. “You interview 25 people and there are two or three that are strong qualified candidates.”
Manitobah pays above minimum wage - ‘up to $14 an hour’ according to their Indeed postings – and includes perks like staff discounts and in-store workshops.
“[There are] lots of positives, and a lot of things that we’re navigating along with the rest of the retail world,” Brand said.
Graham said many retailers are reaching out to former employees as opposed to focusing on new hires, and introducing more incentives heading into the holidays.
"There’s a lot more flexibility in scheduling, additional discounts, and real focus on in addition to wages – that more comprehensive package for employees to work in retail stores."
Brand said Manitobah is exploring other routes to find employees aside from online postings.
"Reaching out on social media, reaching out through newsletters, really tapping into the community that we’ve built already,” Brand said.
She adds part of that strategy is thinking long-term – finding employees to stay on well past the holiday rush.
"We take a lot of care with our employees here and make sure everyone feels really welcome."
Graham said the Retail Council of Canada anticipates consumers will turn to traditional ‘brick-and-mortar’ shopping, augmented by online ordering, this year following two years of pandemic restrictions. He adds retailers who cannot fill positions will need to adapt the types of services they offer and how they manage the needs of customers.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Potential tornado 'surreal' for residents who witnessed damaging storm in southern Ontario
Witnessing a potential tornado was 'surreal' for residents who caught a glimpse of the damaging storm in southern Ontario on Wednesday night.
Was this the bug that stung you? Wasp sightings revive murder-hornet concerns; no detections confirmed
As temperatures rise out of a mild El Nino winter, Canada's buggy season is already upon us again, and this year, the bugs are looking especially big.
WestJet planning new fare category for travellers willing to forgo carry-on bag
WestJet Airlines plans to launch a new cheaper fare category that would be available to travellers willing to fly without a carry-on bag.
'We'll need all hands on deck': Details emerge after deadly boat crash near Kingston, Ont.
Police say they have wrapped up their on-scene investigation into a deadly boat crash in eastern Ontario as details of the incident begin to emerge.
Adding just 10% ultraprocessed foods to healthy diets may raise risk of cognitive decline, stroke
Eating more ultraprocessed foods is linked to a higher risk of cognitive decline and stroke, even if a person is trying to adhere to a Mediterranean diet, the DASH diet or the MIND diet, a new study found.
Cassie Ventura breaks her silence on 2016 video that showed her being physically assaulted by Sean 'Diddy' Combs
Cassie Ventura has shared a statement expressing her gratitude for the support she has received since CNN's publication of a 2016 surveillance video that showed her being physically assaulted by her then-boyfriend, Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
Bangkok hospital says most seriously injured from turbulence-hit flight need spinal operations
Many of the more seriously injured people who were on the Singapore Airlines flight that hit severe turbulence need operations on their spines, a Bangkok hospital said Thursday.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished.
Charlie Colin, founding member of the pop-rock band Train, dies at 58
Charlie Colin, bassist and founding member of the American pop-rock band Train, best known for their early-aughts hits like 'Drops of Jupiter' and 'Meet Virginia,' has died. He was 58.