Jordan Beck | Daily Press Meijer Starbucks baristas Stevie Rodgers, left, and Angela Palo are pictured while hard at work Wednesday.

ESCANABA — With Thanksgiving next week and Christmas almost a month away, some local businesses are looking to hire additional staff members for the holiday season.

“There’s definitely a lot of hiring opportunities,” UPward Talent Council-Michigan Works Employer Services Specialist Megan Boddy said.

A number of stores in the area have positions open for the holidays.

“Typically, retail is going to increase the amount of … new hires that they bring in during November and December,” Boddy said.

One store in the area currently seeking more employees is the Meijer store in Escanaba.

“We are hiring and hope to hire as many as 15-20 new team members in the coming weeks,” Store Director Jessica Daniels Warner said.

According to Boddy, businesses such as Walmart, Marshalls, Tradehome Shoes and Shoe Sensation have also posted job openings for the holiday season.

Along with retail, shipping companies are adding more staff in response to the significant increase in packages sent during the holidays.

“UPS and Fedex — they need help,” Boddy said, noting both of these companies are actively recruiting.

Some eateries in the area may be hiring more people over the coming weeks, as well.

“Restaurants — the ones that have banquet facilities or (the) ability to host private parties — they are typically going to see an increase in business traffic,” Boddy said.

Boddy said many of the hiring opportunities available during the holiday season are short-term in nature.

“There is (opportunities) for just the seasonal, temporary, get-through-the-holidays type of employee,” she said.

However, she also said this is not the only possibility.

“It would probably vary on the person,” Boddy said.

Warner said this is the case at her store.

“While most of these opportunities are part-time and seasonal, these jobs can provide a gateway to a full-time career at Meijer,” she said.

It is not too late for people seeking holiday employment to find a job, Boddy said.

“We do keep a fairly accurate list of open job vacancies on … Pure Michigan Talent Connect,” she said.

The site can be found at www.mitalent.org. For additional assistance, Boddy encouraged people to visit their nearest Michigan Works office.