According to the latest Barclays Business Barometer, 60 percent of retailers are expecting to see more customers in-store compared to online shopping estimates, with 82 percent planning to rely on temporary resources.

With the data also showing that almost a third of retailers are hiring in greater numbers than previous Christmases, experts have highlighted that now is the time to invest in improving the hiring experience for workers, including temporary staff.

“Seasonal workers have always played a significant role for retailers during Christmas, but it would seem that as optimism grows across the sector, many firms are increasing their reliance on those not currently in full-time employment. However, these temporary workers aren’t just valuable in December. It’s important for employers to treat them as the longer-term commodity they are,” comments Steve Smith, President International at Sterling, an employment screening and identity verification company.

“Retailers will often welcome the same short-term employees back time and again, and not just around the December rush. Temporary staff are increasingly being used as the backbone of the retail sector. However, to ensure they want to return, employers have to provide the best experience for these workers - and that includes getting them through the screening process quickly. With competition for this segment of the workforce increasing, it will be the brands able to screen and onboard temporary workers quickly that win both now and in the long run. To deliver this on the scale that’s needed, retailers are going to have to increasingly rely on remote screening and digital identity verification that’s quick, seamless for the end user and, perhaps more importantly, allows for the reuse of certifications in the future.”