Overview
- Indeed reported that searches for seasonal roles rose 27% from last year and 50% from 2023 by late September, while holiday job listings grew just 2.7% from 2024 and remain below 2023 and pre-pandemic levels.
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas expects retail holiday hiring to fall about 8% from last year and possibly hit its lowest level since 2009, after tracking only 100,800 announced plans in September versus 401,850 by early October 2024.
- Analysts cite tariff pressures, lingering inflation, automation, and heavier reliance on permanent staff as key reasons companies are scaling back seasonal hiring.
- The Federal Reserve’s latest reports note very low job creation, employers favoring part-time over full-time roles, and regional signals such as no new retail positions in Cleveland and a hiring chill in Atlanta.
- Employer plans are uneven as Amazon targets 250,000 hires again, Bath & Body Works trims to 32,000, Target leans on existing staff, UPS and FedEx have not released goals, and experts urge applying earlier and considering sectors like accommodation and tourism.