Retailers are ramping up hiring for the holidays, but the increase will likely just match, or fall slightly below, last year’s numbers.

Economists with the Washington State Employment Security Department project that retailers will add nearly 13,000 jobs statewide from October through December, with most of the gains coming in November. Last year, they hired an additional 14,700 workers, which was about 17 percent higher than the agency’s prediction.

As in years past, general merchandisers, also known as “big box” stores, should lead the way by adding some 7,000 jobs. That’s up slightly from the same period last year.

On the other hand, clothing and clothing-accessory stores expect to hire fewer than 3,300, down more than 1,000 from the 2010 holiday season.