GPS Gap Inc

By Colin Kellaher

Gap Inc. (GPS) will hire less than half the number of seasonal employees this holiday season than it did last year, instead offering extra hours to its current staff.

The San Francisco parent of Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic said it plans to hire more than 30,000 associates for its stores, customer contact centers and distribution centers this year, down from the 65,000 seasonal workers it hired last year.

A spokeswoman said Gap's hiring plan is in response to requests from many of its workers for the opportunity to pick up more hours during the holiday season, adding that the retailer has "focused on investing in our current core employee base since the last holiday season."

Outplacement firm Challenger Gray & Christmas last week said U.S. seasonal hiring is expected to stagnate or fall slightly this year after declining last year.

Gap, which is in the process of splitting off Old Navy into a separate company, said it plans to kick off its seasonal hiring by adding up to 5,000 associates during a one-day event on Oct. 5.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 26, 2019 13:17 ET (17:17 GMT)

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