Market Dives: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas challenges

Businesses are trying to cope with the holiday season crunch in an economic climate the likes of which they have never experienced. With some projections forecasting the biggest holiday season ever for retailers, business owners are facing high demand while contending with supply chain issues, labor challenges and other lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week's episode of the Market Dives podcast looks at challenges facing Missouri businesses as the Christmas season approaches. First, we hear how some local retailers are getting creative to survive this vital part of the year that contributes nearly half of all revenue for some businesses. Then, we get a glimpse at the idiosyncrasies of the seasonal labor market and what holiday hiring looks like in 2021. At a time of the year when many companies are looking to staff up, how's that going with job openings still near record highs?