Macy's, Inc. today said it plans to hire approximately 78,000 seasonal associates for its Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores, call centers, distribution centers and online fulfillment centers nationwide for the 2011 holiday season. The hiring plan represents an increase of about 4 percent from the approximately 75,000 seasonal associates hired for last year's holiday season.

"We always hire aggressively during the holidays to ensure our customers are well-served in this important shopping period. We expect additional hiring this year given the continued sales growth in our business - both in-store and online," said Terry J. Lundgren, Macy's, Inc. chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our seasonal associates serve customers on the selling floor, work behind the scenes in store operations positions, interact with customers via the telephone in call centers, and staff the distribution and fulfillment centers that coordinate shipments to our stores and directly to customers who buy online."

Most of the positions are part-time, often with some flexibility to fit with the availability of the individuals hired. Many positions require the applicant to work evenings, weekends or overnight. In some cases, temporary seasonal associates are offered open year-round positions based on their skills and performance over the holiday season.

"Working in a seasonal position at Macy's or Bloomingdale's is a great way to earn extra money during the holidays. Many of our seasonal hires are students on break, stay-at-home parents, individuals in career transitions or those with extra time they would like to use productively," Lundgren said. "Retailing is a fast-paced business, and working at Macy's and Bloomingdale's during this magical time of the year can be fun and rewarding."

Macy's, Inc. employs about 170,000 associates on a year-round basis.