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OLYMPIA – Shopping for a holiday job? Check out the online Holiday Job Marketplace.

The online marketplace was created by the state’s WorkSource system. It allows job seekers to shop by geographic area and job titles, such as cashier, salesperson, shelf stocker and greeter. Job titles link directly to job openings posted on the WorkSource website, go2worksource.com

“Holiday work is a great opportunity for job-seekers to gain some experience while looking for a full-time job,” said Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause.

Economists with the Washington State Employment Security Department project the seasonal hiring picture will look similar to last year. They expect retailers will add more than 13,300 jobs statewide from October through December, with most of the gains coming in November.

Last year, employers hired nearly 14,000 additional workers, which was about 9 percent higher than Employment Security’s prediction.

As in past years, general merchandisers should lead the way by adding some 7,400 jobs, down about 400 positions from the same period last year.

Clothing and clothing-accessory stores expect to hire about 3,700 holiday workers, similar to the 2011 holiday season.

Holiday hiring forecast by region for October through December 2012

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Broadcast version

Washington retailers have begun ramping up for the holiday season, but the number of seasonal hires will likely be less than a year ago.

Economists with the state Employment Security Department expect about 13-thousand additional retail hires through this year’s holiday season, down from nearly 14-thousand a year ago.

To make it easier for people who are shopping for seasonal jobs, the state’s WorkSource system has created an online Holiday Job marketplace, located on Go-2-Worksource-dot-com.

The site allows job seekers to shop by geographic area and job titles, such as cashier, salesperson and greeter. To learn more, visit the WorkSource website.