Although retailers and economists are forecasting a 5.7 percent jump in holiday sales this year, it will remain a ho-hum season for job seekers.

With the official kickoff of the busiest shopping period of the year just a few weeks away, retailers surveyed by the Chicago Sun-Times plan no uptick in seasonal hiring to coincide with that projected uptick in sales.

Despite expecting higher sales, one huge retailer plans to cut holiday employment rolls from last year because of improved productivity.