Hiring for the Holidays | Video

Jessica Roose | 11/27/2012

Obviously, having the lowest unemployment rate in the nation has its advantages. Virtually everyone in North Dakota who wants to work can find a job. On the other hand, businesses that are looking for seasonal help have had their struggles.

The holiday shopping season is underway and by now most stores have finished hiring season help. But many say it was harder to do this year.

If you`ve driven around town lately you`ve probably noticed a now hiring sign or two along your route. As of last month the unemployment rate in North Dakota sat at 3.1 percent. With so many jobs in the state, it makes it hard for employers to find holiday help.

"There`s so many opportunities for younger people to be able to go out there and work, that there`s just not...the help isn`t out there," said Hallmark manager Sue Roe.

Roe feels fortunate she was able to hire the 12 extra employees she needs to survive the holiday season.

"Our traffic increases so much that we go from an ordinary Saturday working four people to ten. So we need so many extra to cover those extra shifts."

Managers at other stores are noticing the same problem. One at Herberger`s says he had a difficult time filling his seasonal staff, saying there are just too many available jobs for those who want to work.

But there`s at least one store in town that isn`t having any trouble. Gamestop opened it`s second location in Bismarck last month and found employees fast.

"It`s mainly the guys that have a love for gaming and love video games and this is the job they want," said manager Holly Hughart.

She says most of the staff is high school students who can work after school and during winter break. They hired four extra employees at the new store near the north Walmart and about eight in the mall location.

Most of the managers we spoke with said they started the hiring process in early October. So they would have staff trained before Black Friday.

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