Lowe’s Companies Inc. plans to hire about 45,000 seasonal employees at its U.S. stores during the spring season, the home improvement industry’s busiest time of year. The company will also add 9,000 permanent part-time employees.

Seasonal workers will include cashiers, lawn and garden specialists, loaders, and stockers.

The Mooresville, N.C.-based company operates more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the United States, Canada and Mexico.