U.S. Retailers Will Reduce Holiday Seasonal Hiring
Businesses plan to hire 450,000 workers for the 2026 holiday season, a 2.5 percent decline from last year.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Employment
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U.S. retailers are projected to add 450,000 seasonal jobs in Q4 2026, marking a 2.5 percent decrease from the 461,500 positions added in 2025. This downturn continues a multi-year decline from the peak hiring levels seen between 2019 and 2021.
Why it matters
Retailers are moving toward more surgical staffing plans due to persistent price levels, supply chain impacts from tariffs, and expectations that consumers will shop more frugally. Companies are increasingly relying on existing staff, automation, and on-demand labor pools rather than massive seasonal recruiting drives.
Seasonal hiring is projected to total 450,000 jobs in Q4 2026, which represents a 2.5 percent decline from the 461,500 jobs added in 2025 and is down significantly from the 543,100 roles filled in 2024.
The players
Amazon
Amazon is a multinational technology and retail corporation that has hired 250,000 seasonal employees during each of the last three years.
Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween is a seasonal retailer currently operating 1,500 stores and planning to hire 52,000 seasonal associates.
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain that plans to hire more than 10,000 seasonal workers for the upcoming holiday period.
The details
Large retailers are adjusting their strategies to prioritize operational efficiency over traditional mass hiring models. Major players like Amazon maintain a consistent seasonal intake of 250,000 employees, while Spirit Halloween plans to hire 52,000 associates for its 1,500 stores and Michaels intends to add more than 10,000 workers.
Timeline
Retailers added 543,100 seasonal jobs in 2024.
Retailers added 461,500 seasonal jobs in 2025.
Seasonal hiring is projected to total 450,000 jobs in Q4 2026.
Macro View
Current seasonal labor projections follow a pattern of cooling that diverges sharply from the rapid expansion seen in historical economic cycles. This 2026 outlook continues a multi-year trend that reflects a departure from the record-high hiring levels established during the 2020-2021 seasonal hiring peaks.
The shift toward smaller seasonal workforces may limit job opportunities for students and individuals seeking temporary holiday income. Shoppers should anticipate that stores may increasingly rely on existing staff and automation, potentially altering the speed and availability of in-store assistance.
The takeaway
Retailers are signaling a long-term transition away from massive seasonal recruiting as they prioritize permanent staff optimization and technical automation. Workers looking for short-term holiday roles may find fewer openings this year as companies streamline their seasonal staffing needs.
Further reading
For more on the current labor market, visit our Employment section.
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