Where do you find holiday workers?

Retailers are making big hiring plans in anticipation of the rush to the holiday stores.

gap (GPS) said Monday it was attracting 65,000 seasonal workers. Target (TGT) announced plans for 120,000 workers last week, 20% more than last year, while Macy said she was hiring 80,000 people, the same number as last year.

Delivery and logistics companies are also looking for workers to help with shipping: UPS (UPS) said Monday that he was hiring 100,000 full-time and part-time workers, up 5% from last year. FedEx (FDX) hired 55,000 people.

With an unemployment rate below 4%, a wage increase faster than a decade ago and consumer optimism, Americans are willing to splurge during the holidays.

"We are currently enjoying a very strong consumer environment, perhaps the strongest of my career," said Target CEO Brian Cornell last month.

Retail sales will reach $ 720 billion this year, up 4% from last year, says the think tank Coresight Research. Coresight predicts that online sales will increase by almost 16% over the previous year.

More buyers buying online create openings in processing centers, warehouses and transport.

Macy & # 39; s (M) 23,500 workers, 5,500 more than last year, would have been deployed to help with online shopping.

Target has expanded its in-store and drive-to-drive capabilities, and plans to double the number of people working on digital orders this year.

But finding workers could prove difficult in a tight labor market.

According to the Department of Labor Statistics, more than 6.9 million jobs were opened in July, including 757,000 in the retail trade. The number of vacancies in the retail trade increased by more than 100,000 last year.

That's why Kohl & # 39; s (KSS) began hiring vacation workers in June. JCPenney (JCP) also announced in July that it was recruiting 18,000 seasonal workers.

Other retailers offer flexible schedules and benefits to attract new workers.

"Retailers will have to offer competitive compensation or other benefits to attract the necessary workers for the end-of-year holidays," said Andrew Challenger, vice president of the Outplacement Challenger company, Gray & Christmas.

Gap offers 50% off Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy products.

Target offers $ 12 an hour to temporary workers, discounts on fruit lines, vegetables and clothing and a $ 500 gift card lottery.

"As the market becomes more competitive, the significant investments we make in our team … distinguish Target," said Stephanie Lundquist, Target's HR manager, last week.

CNNMoney (New York) First published September 18, 2018: 8:59 am ET