Home Depot Inc., the nation's largest home-improvement retailer, says it has started to hire more than 80,000 seasonal workers for the spring selling season, the company's busiest period.
That's level with the last few years. The positions include both part-time and full-time workers in stores and distribution centers. The hiring comes as the Atlanta-based company is moving beyond a huge data breach last fall that affected 56 million credit and debit cards. Home Depot reported in November that its third-quarter profit rose 14 percent on rising sales. That suggests the breach has not shaken the faith of its customers.
Typically, more than half of Home Depot's spring seasonal workers stay on, says Tim Crow, Home Depot executive vice president of human resources. Crow told The Associated Press the hiring level isn't an indication of the business environment or what it sees for the spring season, but more about its needs.
"It gives us the ability to get a whole new wave of folks to join our team," he added.
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-- The Associated Press