Seasonal hiring plans for the final quarter of 2026 are expected to drop by 2.5 percent compared to last year, with about 450,000 new jobs added.
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This, according to predictive data from career consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Retailers are likely to rely on existing staff and on-demand pools rather than hiring more seasonal employees.
Consumers may shop more frugally in the fourth quarter due to rising prices and high cost of living, but are still spending, as indicated by back-to-school spending and August retail sales.
Despite consumer spending, retailers are cautious about committing to hiring more seasonal workers due to high prices and supply chain challenges.
Some big employers, such as Spirit Halloween and Michaels, have announced seasonal hiring plans, but others like Amazon and Bath & Body Works have not yet made public announcements.
Overall, the total number of holiday staff hired this season is expected to fall significantly short of previous years.
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