Holidays in US drive strong demand for temporary workers

The United States has entered its holiday shopping season and high consumer confidence and low unemployment are driving up wages for seasonal workers.

Retailers in the US are expecting to do good business in the run-up to Christmas and that has made seasonal workers more valuable than any hot product.

Low unemployment has driven up wages and increased perks for short-term, part-time work, but labour advocates in the US worry that companies are using the temporary positions to avoid hiring full-time workers and paying for health and retirement benefits.

Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey reports from New York.