Seasonal Job Market Falters as Holiday Hiring Dips

Wed Nov 26 2025 18:20:38 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As the holiday season approaches, many job seekers are finding it increasingly difficult to secure seasonal employment, with experts predicting the lowest hiring levels since the 2008 recession. Reports indicate that major retailers are hiring fewer seasonal workers due to economic uncertainties, creating a challenging environment for those looking to supplement their income.

The holiday job market is experiencing a significant downturn, with fewer seasonal positions available compared to previous years. Retailers like CVS and Best Buy are seeing a decrease in hiring, attributed to economic concerns such as inflation and tariffs. Many job seekers are expressing frustration and stress as they search for work, with predictions of hiring levels dropping to the lowest point since the 2008 recession.

Nicholas Strahl has always been able to find extra work around the holidays. But this year has been the exception.

Mr Strahl, 41, works as a part-time retail sales associate at an office supplies store just outside Indianapolis, Indiana. While the pay is 'okay', he said it 'never hurts to have a little bit more'.

Finding seasonal holiday employment for extra cash to pay his bills and buy holiday gifts for friends and family has been a challenge. He started his search in early October, applying to CVS, Best Buy, and a slew of other retailers—without success.

I've never seen the job market like this—it's pretty crazy, he said. It doesn't really leave a lot of power for people who just want to get a job, or have a supplement in income.

According to the National Retail Federation, seasonal hiring is expected to drop to its lowest level since the aftermath of the 2008 recession. This decline signals caution among US businesses in response to tariffs and consumer concerns as more people seek employment in a cooling job market.

The retail sector predicts hiring between 265,000 and 365,000 seasonal workers, a drop from the 442,000 hired last year. The outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas also forecasts a weak holiday hiring season due to factors like inflation and automation.

If Mr Strahl can't land a holiday job, he plans to cut down on gifts and delay some car repairs and laptop replacement. At this point, he said, I'm willing to take anything I can get.

Despite steady job postings for seasonal work, there is a growing competition for these roles. The current labor market is described as 'frozen with frostbite,' highlighting the struggle to find adequate seasonal employment.

Several major retailers are refraining from announcing their seasonal hiring plans, suggesting a cautious approach rather than anticipating a large surge in holiday shopping. This trend is echoed by smaller retailers who are also limiting their hiring efforts.

As the holiday season approaches, the looming uncertainty in the job market continues to stress job seekers, with many like Tanya Secord experiencing frustration in their attempts to secure temporary work.