As unemployment rates skyrocket in Kentucky, there may be hope right now in the job search.

It may be only a temporary fix, but right now might be the most wonderful time of the year for you to get a job. It's almost Halloween, but people will be out buying presents and shopping for the winter holidays soon enough.

With all the extra shoppers alot of stores need more help for the upcoming holiday season and they're hiring now. "Everyone shops during the Christmas season, we get more guest traffic so we have to have more sales associates come in and actually help the guests," said Courtney Brown, Target's Senior Team Leader.

Brown says they will hire about 40 people for extra help, and they've already filled 20 of those spots. "I definitely have seen we've had more applications this year than in the past years," adds Brown.

That's no surprise with Kentucky's unemployment rate. The Kentucky Office of Employment and Training says all 120 counties in Kentucky saw a jump from last September. Magoffin County has the highest unemployment rate at 21.4%. Close behind are Grayson County with 16.4%, Trigg County at 16% and Metcalfe County nearly the same.

With those rates, Brown says they've seen a variety of people job-hunting. "We've had college kids come in and then we've had people who've been laid off from their job that they've held for 20 years coming in to find positions."

Target isn't the only place hiring, others like Gander Mountain, Macy's, Shoe Carnival, and JcPenney's say they plan to hire seasonal help.

Even though it's a temporary job, Brown says those affected by the economy will take what they can get. "They come in with a smile on their face and they still do their job, they don't show that they've been affected by any hardship that they've had."

The holiday work period goes from right about now until after Christmas. Brown says around New Year's, stores start cutting those seasonal hires loose.

You may get lucky though, sometimes the stores move seasonal employees into a permanent position.