Nov. 8--Sarah McCann has a tough choice to make.

The manager of Silver Mountain jewelry store at Polaris Fashion Place mall has three holiday jobs to fill and, because of the state's high unemployment rate, a mountain of applications. And they're among the best and most highly skilled prospects she's ever seen.

"In previous years, the applicants haven't been as impressive," McCann said. "Now, I've got too many good people to choose from.

"It's making my hiring decision so much harder than it's ever been."

Competition for seasonal jobs is fierce this year, industry observers say. The U.S. jobless rate for October hit a 26-year high of 10.2 percent. Ohio's rate for September, the most recent data available, stood at 10.1 percent, with 594,000 people unemployed.

Add to that the number of people who seek seasonal employment to supplement their income or to pay for holiday purchases, and the job hunt has become much more competitive, according to Challenger Gray & Christmas, a Chicago-based employment-consulting firm.

"Holiday hiring might improve slightly over last year, but only because 2008 saw the lowest seasonal employment growth in nearly 20 years," John Challenger, the firm's CEO, said in a statement.

"With millions of Americans out of work and many more simply cutting back on all discretionary spending, few retailers will take the risk of eating into slim profits with extra workers."

While Ohio's employment environment isn't as bad as in some states -- Michigan's jobless rate was 15.3 percent in September -- it's still "likely to be a bit of a challenge" to find a seasonal job this year, said Bill LaFayette, vice president for economic analysis at the Columbus Chamber.

From the time the recession started until now, central Ohio has lost 1.9 percent of its total employment, compared with a 5.2 percent loss of jobs nationally, he said. In the retail sector, the region lost 4.5 percent of its jobs, compared with 5.6 percent nationwide.

A recent Manpower Employment Outlook Survey found that only 8 percent of Columbus area employers plan to hire employees during the fourth quarter, while 9 percent expect to reduce their payrolls. The majority -- 75 percent -- expect to maintain their current staff levels, and 8 percent aren't certain of their plans, the survey found.

Employers seem "to be really jittery still, and consumer confidence is down," LaFayette said. "That doesn't bode well for hiring anywhere.