October, and thus orange, is retailing’s new black.

Not only are merchants filling store shelves with holiday gifts and trinkets earlier and earlier, the seasonal hiring push by Southern California retailers is coming earlier, too, state employment statistics show.

My trusty spreadsheet tells me retailers in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties employed 755,800 workers last month, the highest October staffing since 2007. That’s up 9,000 from September but only up 400 from a year ago.

Two trends show: The four-county region’s month-over-month increase was the sixth biggest October bump since 1990, signaling retailer confidence in this holiday season. Meager job increases from 2016 show the long-running pressure on brick-and-mortar retailing.

It’s no surprise the traditional store concept is severely challenged by online shopping. And the intensity of that competition heats up during the major year-end shopping season.

And it’s more than just stores trying to jump-start the holiday rush with Christmas ornaments and winter-themed gifts displayed on numerous store shelves shortly after Labor Day.

It’s also about betting on October — from extensive Halloween themes to flavoring everything with pumpkin spice. And the four-county region’s jobs data reveals hiring is a new October focus, too.

Here are six trends to consider …

1. Remember, retail hiring is volatile. Since 1990, staffing has averaged a 7 percent holiday jump in October through December — and those seasonal hires are essentially gone by February. A typical year sees a 9 percent gap between retail employment’s peak month (December) and the bottom (April).

2. October surprise. From 1990 to 2007, local merchants averaged 6,600 additional workers in October, the launching point for seasonal hiring. Since the recession, that’s jumped to 8,200 and it’s been 9,200 the past five years. In a shrinking business, that’s surprising!

3. Same year-end push. October isn’t taking away from typical seasonal staffing boosts. Since 1990, Southern California retailers have added roughly 43,000 workers in November and December. That pace hasn’t changed much since the recession ended.

4. Less back-to-school. How are retailers paying for October? Maybe cuts to hiring in August and September: 5,100 hires averaged before the recession to 1,800 since. Earlier starts to the school year also may be a culprit but, curiously, this year’s local back-to-school hiring was the strongest since 2006.

5. Flat staffing in 2017. One revived month isn’t a revival. Southern California retail jobs have run near or below year-ago level for most of the year. The last time that happened was 2010. Online shopping is clearly a factor, considering that broader economic measures still show a growing economy.

6. Past its peak. Many key measures of the local economy — from overall employment to retail spending to real estate prices — have surpassed highs hit in the ill-fated expansion of a decade ago. Southern California retail employment’s record high is still December 2007 at 811,000. If this year finishes with a typical upswing … that 10-year-old record won’t be topped.

El Warner, who follows retailers for the Matthews Real Estate Investment Services brokerage, says successful brick-and-mortar retailers are using beefed-up staffs to differentiate themselves from online competitors.

“I’m seeing retailers changing how they look at the world. They want to offer higher level of service,” Warner says. “The more help, the more the customer experience is improved. Retailers are saying ‘We need more people working the floor.’”