Dick's and Foot Locker Cut Seasonal Holiday Hiring

Both retailers are scaling back temporary staff additions for the 2026 holiday season.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Retail

Dick's and Foot Locker Cut Seasonal Holiday Hiring

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Dick's Sporting Goods and Foot Locker have both reduced their seasonal hiring plans by 40% compared to last year. The staffing levels mark a return for Dick's to patterns seen prior to the 2025 holiday season.

Why it matters

The reduction in hiring reflects a strategy by these major retailers to align temporary staffing more closely with historical demand patterns. Both companies are also maintaining policies to keep facilities closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Dick's Sporting Goods plans to hire 8,400 seasonal associates, down from 14,000 in 2025, while Foot Locker aims for 2,900 hires compared to 4,750 last year. Nationally, total seasonal retail hiring is projected to reach 450,000 jobs in Q4 2026.

The players

Dick's Sporting Goods

This American sporting goods retail company is headquartered in Pittsburgh and operates numerous stores throughout the United States.

Foot Locker

This footwear and apparel retailer maintains a significant presence in the North American market through its mall-based and standalone storefronts.

The details

Candidates interested in these seasonal positions can find open roles on corporate websites or attend the National Signing Day event where interviews are conducted on-site. To allow employees to spend time with their families, Dick's will close all stores and distribution centers on Thanksgiving Day before reopening on Black Friday.

In 2023, Dick's hired 8,600 seasonal workers.
In 2024, the retailer hired 8,000 seasonal workers.
In 2025, Dick's hired 14,000 workers and Foot Locker hired 4,750.
October 21, 2026, marks the National Signing Day for seasonal hiring.
November 26, 2026, all retail and distribution centers will be closed.

Market Landscape

The hiring adjustments at these firms reflect a broader contraction in the retail labor market following the projected 450,000 seasonal jobs available for Q4 2026. This repositioning helps these retailers manage overhead while aligning with industry-wide shifts in seasonal workforce requirements.

Shoppers should anticipate standard store hours, with closures confirmed only for Thanksgiving Day. Job seekers looking for temporary holiday work should monitor corporate websites or local events for upcoming hiring opportunities.

The takeaway

Retailers appear to be recalibrating their temporary workforce size to align with more traditional, pre-2025 holiday demand. Applicants are encouraged to engage with the hiring process early through official corporate portals to secure these limited positions.