As the colder weather comes in so do the jobs.
Seasonal hiring is in full swing at stores large and small in Vermont. The focus in the job market has been the strength of the economy and it wasn't different for the temp job applicants.
"The economy is not so hot these days," Shana Mleko said.
Mleko is a Vermont chef but she's trying to cook up a seasonal job at Gardner's Supply Company job fair to get extra cash for the holidays.
"I just decided that I would try something different this year," Mleko said.
That opportunity will exist on a large scale across the country. At six of some of the biggest retail stores in the country (Wal-Mart, Toys-R-Us, Kohl's, GameStop, Macy's, Target) more than 300,000 jobs will be added over the coming months. The Vermont Department of Labor reports that the through October to December, trends so an additional 2,100 jobs coming to the state. Tasha Wallis of the Vermont Retail Association projects a year stronger than one's past.
"Seasonal hiring was down or flat. As I mentioned many small stores didn't hire," Wallis said.
Gardener's Supply Company expects more than 200 people to be coming to these jobs fairs over the next couple weeks. The holiday shopping creates different types of jobs in different industries.
"More jobs in the warehouses, more jobs in the distribution center and more jobs at the shipping company," Wallis said.
That rings true at Gardener's Supply Company too. Shana is applying for one of more than 50 jobs at the call center but Human Resources Generalist Sue Tracy says there will be hiring at the company's Milton warehouse.
"They're hiring about twenty five new seasonals on board," Tracy said.
The Gardener's Supply Company facility in Burlington and warehouse in Milton will both host a job fair next Wednesday, October 17th.
