Seasonal hiring expected to be tepid this year

— -- Retailers are already decking their halls with holiday decor, but workers who want seasonal jobs should keep their cheer in check: Hiring will be tepid, according to new surveys.

Slightly more than half (51%) of managers with responsibility to hire year-end, seasonal workers will do so, according to job website SnagAJob. That's 1 percentage point more than last year .

A survey from management consultant Hay Group found that two-thirds of retailers plan to hire at the same level as last year. Another 25% expect to bring on fewer workers.

The holiday hiring forecast from outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas predicts that retail job gains will be the same or lower than 2010.

Economic and market turmoil have made many managers uneasy, says SnagAJob CEO Shawn Boyer. In turn, they're being "cautious and conservative," in planning their holiday strategy, he says.

Thursday, Toys R US announced that it will hire about 40,000 seasonal staffers. That's down from the 45,000 it said it would hire for holiday 2010.

The temperate stance comes as many retailers brace for ho-hum holiday sales.

National retail sales should rise 3% during November and December vs. that same period last year, according to data from researcher ShopperTrak. That's below 2010's 4.1% increase.

About a quarter of shoppers plan to spend less than last year, says America's Research Group. Slightly more than half expect to spend only as much as last season, while 18% plan to spend more.

With consumers seeking discounts, store managers want to save money and preserve margins. That means avoiding unnecessary hires, Challenger CEO John Challenger says. "They don't want (workers) standing around," he says.

But the prudence won't lead to a bah-humbug payday for all. Many stores will offer existing staffers extra holiday shifts, National Retail Federation spokeswoman Kathy Grannis says.

Those workers are already adept at using cash registers, placating unhappy customers and spotting shoplifters, she says. In exchange for those skills, they can earn overtime and extra commissions. "Retailers know that their current employees like extra hours," she says. "It's a great time of year to make a couple extra bucks that they can put toward holiday gifts for their family."