Beyond.com quarterly analysis of career trends showed a significant increase in online job postings in the merchandising, purchasing and retail sector, which indicates holiday hiring is much improved from the previous two years.

“While it still remains a challenging time for many to find employment, there are glimmers of hope for job seekers looking for work across several key sectors and position types,” said Rich Milgram, CEO of Beyond.com, Inc. “The influx of retail and customer service job postings can be attributed to the upcoming holiday season, which will offer many relief in their job search — whether it be temporary or an opportunity for a long-term position. One thing for certain is that seasonal jobs this year are abundantly greater than the past two holiday seasons, lending hope and confidence for the future of the economy.”

According to the Beyond.com quarterly report, which gathers information across thousands of top-tier industry and local career sites, more than 42 percent of industries had a percentage gain in online job postings over the previous quarter. The top online job titles for the third quarter are represented across many different industries, but have a particular concentration in the Healthcare and Retail sectors:

1. Physical Therapist

2. Occupational Therapist

3. Sales Representative

4. Cashier

5. Customer Service Representative

6. Merchandise Associate

7. Administrative Associate

8. Assistant Manager

9. Sales Associate

10. Event Specialist