Seasonal hiring may remain flat this year

Retailers may ring up more sales this holiday season, but it doesn't appear they'll be hiring more seasonal workers.

Seasonal retail jobs are expected to be about the same as or possibly lower than last year. This could be due in part because retailers have been adding jobs throughout the last year. About 100,000 jobs have been added since last August, according to the National Retail Federation.

The organization expects retailers to hire between 480,000 and 500,000 seasonal workers this holiday season, which is comparable to the 495,000 seasonal employees they hired last year.

Holiday retail sales for 2011 are expected to increase 2.8 percent to $465.6 billion, the federation projects. That's less than last year's sales increase of 5.6 percent, although 2010 was the first year holiday sales increased following two years of decline in 2008 and 2009.

Retailers rely heavily on holiday sales, which can account for anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of many businesses annual revenue, according to the National Retail Federation. Holiday sales consistently represent nearly one-fifth of annual retail sales. As of today, there are 76 more shopping days until Christmas.

* Old Town Cape will host its 20th annual Parade of Lights at 5 p.m. Nov. 27. This year's theme is "A Picture Perfect Christmas." All floats must be lighted and have some sort of Christmas music playing. As always, Santa Claus will be on the final float riding in his sleigh. Entries in the parade are limited to the first 100. Entry forms and more information are available at www.oldtowncape.org/events or by calling 334-8085.

* Cape Dry Ice has opened as an extension of River City Biologicals, 813 Southern Expressway, in Cape Girardeau. Along with dry ice, the company will offer shipping containers. Cape Dry Ice will offer both slab and pellet products. River City Biologicals is owned by Jerad Busch and George "Skip" Wrape.

* The Fall Human Resources & Management Conference will be held Oct. 18 at Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. Topics include legal and legislative updates; balancing employee privacy rights with employer rights; and stress and worry in the workplace. The conference is presented by the Cape Area Personnel Association, SHIRM of Southeast Missouri, Missouri Employer Committee in Sikeston, Missouri Career Center in Cape Girardeau and the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Division of Workforce Development. For registration information, call 339-9659 or email cschlosser@alliancebanking.com. Registration deadline is Wednesday.

* Shear Madness Salon is now open at 909 Broadway in Cape Girardeau. The salon uses Enjoy products and color. They are all-natural and sulfate- and silicone-free. Shear Madness offers all hair services and specializes in color, facials, and waxing. Body sugaring is also available. Shear Madness has three stylists, including owners Heather Carmack and Melyssa Terbrak. Jona Edwards is also a stylist at the salon. All are graduates of Trendsetters and have 19 years of combined experience. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

Daily discounts and specials for Southeast Missouri State University students are offered.

* Breymeyer Construction in Benton, Mo., is now an independent authorized dealer for Energy Panel Structures. The company now offers a line of pre-engineered and custom designed building systems. Energy Panel Structures manufactures wood truss and structural insulated panel systems for agricultural, residential and commercial buildings.

Russell Breymeyer has specialized in residential and multifamily construction for 36 years and serves Scott, Cape Girardeau and New Madrid counties. Energy Panel Structures, based Graettinger, Iowa, in serves more than 30 states with a local dealer network of more than 350 independent authorized dealers.

* Bill Kessler of Kessler Farms near Mexico, Mo., will speak at the fall meeting of the Missouri Dietary Managers Association at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau.

Titled "America's Pork," Kessler's speech will highlight how much leaner pork is today than it was 20 years ago and how increasing demand for pork has help U.S. producers become leaders in the global food marketplace.

A USDA study released in 2006 showed that pork tenderloin is now just as lean as a skinless chicken breast. Pork production provides more than 32,000 direct and support jobs in Missouri.

Southeast Missourian business editor Melissa Miller may be contacted at 388-3646 or mmiller@semissourian.com.