Temporary jobs boost economy, resume

With the holiday season in full swing, it’s the time of year for holiday work. And while most of the jobs may be temporary, the benefits they bring to both the employer and the employee are not.

Retail stores, major shopping outlets and hotels are hiring on extra help. One goal for them is to make profits, and the end of the year is the best time for them to do just that.

“That’s why we like to see the retail and see some extra infusion of income into the community during the holiday as well as the rest of the year,” said John Regetz, Executive Director of the Bannock Development Corporation.

Regetz said the employers need the help to sell their goods, but employees gain soft job skills. Those skills include showing up to work on time, dressing appropriately, and in this season, showing your employer that you go above and beyond to get the job done. Regetz said that shows initiative and will provide potential job opportunities in the future.

“Demonstrating those personal skills, those basic work skills, is an opportunity to get a good reference from that employer,” Regetz said.

He said to look not just at retail, but other area businesses that see an influx of business during the holidays, like hotels. Company Christmas parties and out-of-town guests in for the holidays bring more need for the extra help in the catering and housekeeping departments.

And Regetz says all of these things bring more jobs, money and business into the community, and affects the unemployment rate.

“It’s going to fluctuate,” said Regetz, “but one of the good things about the holidays is the unemployment tends to drop because of holiday employment opportunities.”