STOCKING UP ON STAFF; RETAILERS FIND HOLIDAY WORKERS DESPITE LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATES.

Byline: Chris Sieroty Staff Writer

Scott Damschroder says finding part-time employees to work over the holidays has never been a problem. The owner of Scorecard in Studio City says to find seasonal workers all he has to do is call Valley College or the nearby private high schools.

``I've been lucky, because good employees have come to a place like this,'' said Damschroder, who says Scorecard has three students from Valley College, two from Notre Dame and one from Harvard-Westlake working part-time.

After Thanksgiving, Damschroder said employees who usually work eight to 12 hours a week will begin working 30-hour weeks until January. The former May Co. executive says at $5.75 per hour, it's a good opportunity for some students to earn extra money.

Turns out, Damschroder is more the rule than the exception. Despite unemployment figures at 20-year lows, many area retailers say they are having little trouble finding part-time and seasonal employees for this winter's holiday shopping season.

Ted Gibson, chief economist with the California Department of Finance, said the ease with which some employers are finding candidates suggests the labor market in Los Angeles isn't as tight as in other parts of the state.

For September, the most recent month available, the unemployment rate in Los Angeles County was 5.8 percent compared to 4.9 percent for the entire state, the Employment Development Department reported.

To fill its holiday needs, Kay-Bee Toys at the Burbank Media City Center began hiring in September. Manager Christina Lopez said seven part-time workers have been hired to assist the store's seven full-time employees.

She says to find additional holiday staff, the company has posted a help wanted sign in the mall, along with contacting nearby Burbank High School. Lopez wouldn't discuss salary but said Kay-Bee Toys does offer seasonal workers a 20 percent discount on in-store merchandise.

At Borders Books, Music and Cafe in Valencia, general manager Kim Hunt said her seasonal staff has already been hired for this winter. ``It didn't take too long to find qualified candidates,'' said Hunt. ``We had a good pool of applicants.''

Her three seasonal workers will be employed until mid-January, she said. One full-time seasonal employee was hired in mid-October, and two part-time employees will start by the end of the month.

Gibson said the situation is more dire for employers in other parts of the state. For example, with unemployment rates of 2.6 percent in Orange County and 4 percent in Sacramento County, many employers in those areas can't find enough seasonal workers.

Simon Sanasinh, an assistant manager with a Target store in Sacramento, said he has had a hard time finding qualified candidates for his holiday openings.

To find candidates with retail experience, Sanasinh said the store offers part-time workers salaries competitive with those offered by other large retail chains, along with a 10 percent discount card and flexible schedules. Target also bought a billboard to advertise employment opportunities, he said.

Down the street at Borders Books, Music and Cafe, general manager Tom Hedtke said his store is the exception to the rule in Sacramento. ``Borders planned ahead, and as a result, we had hired our entire holiday staff by the middle of October,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Scott Damschroder, right, owner of Scorecard in Studio City, has found part-time workers like Joe Bakhoum at Valley College and nearby private high schools.

(2 -- color) Scorecard in Studio City, which specializes in sports items and memorabilia, will increase the hours of its part-time staff for the holidays.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News