Lowe's hiring 45,000 seasonal workers for the spring

MOORESVILLE, N.C. - Home-improvement retailer Lowe's announced Tuesday that it will hire 45,000 seasonal workers ahead of its busy spring season. 

Another 9,000 part-time employees will be brought on permanently.

On average, seasonal employees will work 20 to 25 hours per week and the length of seasonal employment will vary. Most jobs will start in February and some could last until September.

“We are focused on providing customers with outstanding service,” said Scott Purvis, vice president, human resources, operations. “We are looking for candidates who are experienced in any of the home improvement trades, and, most importantly, those who are committed to providing Lowe’s customers an exceptional service experience.”

The prolonged housing slump hurt home-improvement stores, in part because homeowners have held back on big-ticket renovations. But now, most economists say the housing market is recovering and that the gains should continue this year.

Home prices rose 7.4 percent annually in November, real estate data provider CoreLogic said last week.  That's the biggest annual increase since 2006, when the housing bubble burst.

On Tuesday, The National Association of Realtors reported U.S. sales of previously occupied homes dipped in December from November, in part because of a limited supply of available homes. But for all of 2012, sales rose to their highest level in five years.

Lowe's shares rose 45 cents on Tuesday to close at $37.44.

Available positions are being posted and applications accepted online at www.lowes.com/careers .