The unemployment rate rose .4% over last month to 10.2% — the highest it’s been in 26 years. Economists had predicted the rate would hit 9.9%.

Also in October, 190,000 jobs were lost, putting the nation’s total number of out of work people at 15.7 million. Of these, one-third or 5.6 million have been out of work for more than six months. The greatest losses were seen in the construction, manufacturing and retail sectors. 40,000 retail jobs were cut — which isn’t exactly good news for those in search of seasonal retail jobs.

While the October job losses are still high by historical standards, they do reflect some improvement since the worst of the recession, which saw 741,000 layoffs last January. Economists are now predicting that the job market will begin to see some modest gains (i.e. a net positive number of jobs added to the economy) by the 2nd quarter of 2010.

Until then, Congress and the White House are working to extend benefits to help the long-term unemployed. President Obama will sign a bill today that extends unemployment to 20 weeks.

Retail spending has gone up slightly over the past three months, which may signal to retailers that consumers will spend more freely this holiday season. If the sale growth trend continues into the holiday season, it “could boost seasonal hiring above last year’s meager activity,” said John Challenger, chief executive of the placement firm.

Challenger warned, however, that “the hiring surge may come later than normal this year, as many retailers wait to see how holiday sales are going before adding extra workers.” Given that the economic picture is still far from rosy, most consumers are still operating under a reduced discretionary spending budget. And retailers don’t want to risk “eating into slim profits with extra workers.”

Bottom line? The number of retail seasonal jobs will be up this year over last — but star below the pre-recession figures. If you are in the market for a seasonal job, here are a few tips:

• Apply early (no later than Halloween)
• Look to “big box” stores like Target and Walmart
• Be willing to consider “behind-the-scenes” jobs such as stocking positions in the warehouse vs. sales clerk positions
• Be flexible with work hours — most stock positions, for example, work overnight
• Network with friends who work in retail — they may be able to give you the heads up before their store starts its official hiring phase

Maybe you are a college student need a seasonal job during the summer or over winter break. Have you considered working in retail?

Retail jobs are not the most glamorous, nor do they pay top dollars. And the hours aren’t the greatest either (think: nights and weekends). The advantages of a retail job, however, are that they are readily available — yes, even in this economy. And with night or weekend shifts, you will still have plenty of time to go on interviews and send off resumes for your dream job.

Here’s a look at some of the more common retail positions:

Warehouse workers
Warehouse worker jobs are physically demanding, involving lifting heavy boxes and standing for long periods of time. Warehouse workers stock, move and ship retail goods to satellite stores, other warehouses and direct to customers. Most positions do not require advanced degrees; more important are past experience and a positive attitude.

Retail buyers
Buyers make sure that their retail store is well-stocked and they identify new products for the store to sell. Many buyers travel extensively seeking out the latest and greatest items. Overtime is common, on top of a 40-hour work week, especially when shipments arrive or during buying trips. A college degree, along with on-the-job training, is required for most buyer positions. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average buyer earned a salary of $72,000 in 2004. If you love to shop, this just might be a dream job for you!

Retail Clerks
Clerks and cashiers are the bane of the retail world. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were over 4.5 million retail sales positions in 2006. From teenagers to retirees, clerk positions can be a good fit for workers of nearly any age – and they don’t require a lot of education or training. The pay scale of a retail clerk/cashier is typically in the minimum wage range, although promotions are not uncommon. Most retail clerks work assigned weekly shifts, including night and weekend hours, rather than a typical 9-5 workweek.

Are you are interested in finding a job in retail? Whether as a clerk, buyer or warehouse worker — or perhaps a position in management or corporate relations is more your speed — be sure to check out JobMonkey’s Guide to Retail Jobs.

Walmart – The Arkansas-based company, which is number 2 on the Fortune 100 list, needs to hire thousands of store managers, human resource managers, pharmacists, customer service associates and cashiers.

Lowes – #47 on the Fortune 100 list, this North Carolina company is looking to hire 7,900 new employees, from seasonal employees to team members in regional distribution centers

Sears – The mega-retailer — #49 on the Fortune 100 — plans to hire 500 new people, including associates, store managers and in-home technicians.

Supervalu – The Minnesota-based hardware company has 180 new positions available, including openings in retail stores and supply chain services.

To learn more about working for retailers, be sure to read up on retail jobs at the JobMonkey. And if retail is not your thing, the list also includes numerous opportunities in insurance sales, technology development, and other fields.

Their job expert said good job hunters know that there is no such thing as a holiday break when you are looking for a job.  She suggested that there are two reasons for the full throttle approach to job hunting during the holidays:

* Companies that are planning to hire in January (and there are still some of them) have already allocated the funds for the new employee’s salary — which means, they are interviewing and making job offers NOW.

* A lot of job hunters take a break during the holiday season.  It’s cold, it’s dreary, and the economic forecast is more of the same.  Many of your would-be competitors figure they might as well enjoy some happy family time this holiday season and then  get back on the job hunt bandwagon come the new year.  By continuing your job search in earnest, you can get a leg-up.  Yours will be the first resume to cross a desk, yours will be one of fewer interviews — all of which makes a bigger impression.

Convinced that it’s a good idea to keep up with your job search, even during the holiday season?  Good!  Then here are five suggestions for making the most of your ho-ho-hunting.

1. Network at holiday parties.
You don’t want to be over the top, but you do want to mention to casual friends and new acquaintances that you are searching for a new job.  Carry extra business cards with you wherever you go, and be prepared to hand them out.

2.  Attend professional association gatherings.
Even in these hard-hit economic times, most professional associations are still holding end-of-the-year events.  Get yourself invited and then follow the advice in #1.

3. Send out holiday cards.
Not the kind with cute pictures of your kids or tales of your latest rock-climbing adventure. 

Send out nice, but casual holiday cards to the people on your networking list.  Include a sentiment about a productive, fruitful and successful year ahead.  If printing holiday cards is not in your budget, consider an email greeting. Either way, the goal is to remind people, subtly and convivially, that you are out there.

4. Get a seasonal job.
Retail may — or may not — be your dream job. But getting a seasonal retail job or other service industry position, is a great way to earn some extra cash while building up your resume and exposing yourself to new networking opportunities.  Most seasonal gigs are part-time, so will still be able to dedicate full-time energy to your job search as well.

5. Volunteer.
‘Tis the season to be generous.  Spend a few hours every week helping others and gain a little perspective on your own struggles. Plus, many volunteer abroad placements offer leadership and executive experience to help you round out your resume and opportunities to meet people you may one day want to work with or for. Remember this recent post about the many benefits of volunteering?

Are you looking for a job this holiday season?  How do you stay  motivated to keep plugging away at it, even when the eggnog and latkes are calling your name?