As the holiday shopping season nears, many retailers will be adding on temporary employees to help respond to shopping crowds.

The Employment Security Department estimates that 18,826 hires could be made statewide for the holiday shopping season this year. That compares with 13,920 actual hires statewide last year and would be an approximate 35% increase in retail hiring.

ESD observed that retailers have been making seasonal hires earlier in recent years than they had traditionally. Go here to review retail hiring opportunities across the state.