Just as shoppers prepare to battle for deals on gifts for Christmas- a battle has begun for seasonal jobs. 

The website CareerBuilder.com says one in eight employed workers will be looking for a second, seasonal job.

However, stores expect to hire 16% fewer hourly workers this year than last.

But the news isn't all bad. One-third of companies say they're likley to hire a seasonal worker for a full-time position.

And though Arkansas' unemployment rate is below the national rate, there are still people here looking for work here at home.

Just a week away from Thanksgiving many businesses said they'd pretty much filled their openings for seasonal work already but when it comes to who is hiring and how many, it's a mixed bag.

While some are preparing to spend money this holiday season-others are looking to make it.

During the winter months in Arkansas, thousands of people get seasonal jobs, most of them in the retail.

But employers say while it may be recovering, it’s still a rocky economy.

"Yeah, it’s been a quieter year, you know ups and downs and things like that and it's just been a different year for everybody," said Greg Bonner.

It’s been a quiet enough season at the Heights Toy Center-that owner Greg Bonner says he's not hiring any seasonal help.

Instead, he's leaning on family now more than ever--cutting back on training and other costs.

"Yes, it cuts back on the salaries, but it also cuts back on the taxes that I owe on those salaries, so it is far reaching."

But at the Target store in West Little Rock--a different trend.

"This year we hired more than we did last year and that's to help with our projected increase in sales for the year. We have a lot of great sales going on in our departments so we have to have the extra man power," said Target manager David Finkbeiner.

Managers here say they have applications coming in everyday-- many people looking for a second job.

And hard at work for the holiday, some employees hope they'll be here to stay.

"If they are a great fit for Target and they like us and we hope they do, we'll definitely consider holding them over into the next year," Finkbeiner said. 

Many of these jobs though tend to be part-time and lower wage.

In that survey we mentioned, 12% of employers expected to pay employees $16 or more and hour, while 20% planned to pay between $6 and $8 an hour.