Los Angeles (ABC) -- A new report out Wednesday predicts a spike in holiday spending as Americans expect to spend $40 more this holiday season.
Businesses say they’re ready to hire hundreds of thousands to help those shoppers.
Maria Buenrostro, who’s been out of work for eight months, is holding onto hope.
“It’s been hitting pretty hard…I mean, anything you can get your hands on right now you just have to take,” she said.
For the unemployed, the gifts may be coming early this year. As many as 700,000 seasonal jobs around the country will be up for grabs. And, in preparation for what could be the best holiday hiring season in five years, some of the biggest names in retail are already accepting applications.
Kohl’s plans to hire more than 52,000 workers – that’s 10,000 more jobs than last holiday season. Walmart will hire 50,000 workers; Toys ‘R’ Us will hire 45,000 people; and Target plans on hiring as many as 90,000.
Jobs that earn about $7 per hour mean a paycheck of more than $5,000 by the end of the holiday crunch.
It may not be much to live on, but for Matthew Rangel, a call center worker who was laid off, it’s a wish come true.
“I was looking at the Diamond Store down there…just something for the holidays for some extra income, pay down the credit cards, stuff like that,” he said.
For some, those temporary jobs will turn permanent. Last year, Toys ‘R’ Us kept 15 percent of its seasonal workforce; Target kept 30 percent.
