'Tis the season to be working, but it's sellers' choice. (Retail).(employee recruitment)

Not very long ago, retailers were luring hard-to-find workers with deep employee discounts, salaries well above the minimum wage and even signing bonuses.

Now retailers -- in the midst of the pre-holiday hiring season -- aren't quite as desperate. Although it still isn't easy finding retail workers, merchants generally have more applicants to choose from.

"I would say it's been a little easier (hiring seasonal workers) than last year," said Patty Machon, general manager at Restoration Hardware at Providence Place. "We certainly haven't had any problem finding quality applicants."

Machon said last week that the store already has hired 12 employees …