Nordstrom to Hire Fewer Temporary Holiday Workers

Nordstrom said it would hire about 11,400 temporary employees for the holiday shopping season, about 3 percent fewer than last year. The company said about 9,500 temporary employees will be hired in sales and stock positions at its 123 Nordstrom stores in the United States and Canada and 213 Nordstrom Rack stores in the United States. Another 1,900 will be hired to support Nordstrom's stores and e-commerce business through its fulfillment and distribution centers, the company said.

Total Retail's Take: It's been a challenging year for Nordstrom, and this news tells you that the company forecasts that the holiday season will bring more of the same. Like many other traditional brick-and-mortar retailers, Nordstrom is struggling to compete with online retailers. To that end, Nordstrom is investing heavily in its digital and technology capabilities. In fact, while overall holiday hiring is down year-over-year, Nordstrom is adding 300 more workers this year for its e-commerce operations.