Overview
- Revelio Labs reports a 35% year-over-year drop in U.S. postings for store and mall Santas, extending a decline that began in 2022.
- The median advertised wage is $25 an hour, up from about $21.89 in 2022, which analysts attribute to a composition effect rather than broad pay increases.
- Hiring standards have tightened, with roughly 70% of listings now requiring a real beard, up from about 14% three years ago.
- Real-bearded Santas command higher posted pay, averaging $30.84 an hour versus $21.83 for roles using fake beards, according to the latest analysis.
- The pullback aligns with softer seasonal hiring and a U.S. unemployment rate of 4.6% in November, the highest in more than four years.