Holiday Hiring Soars: Job Seekers Crave Seasonal Work This Year!

As the holiday season approaches, job seekers are diving headfirst into the world of seasonal work, with opportunities bouncing back to pre-pandemic levels!

Key Insights

• As of September 24, job postings for seasonal positions have surged to 0.5% above the same date in 2019, signaling a robust recovery, although demand has dipped 12% from the peak in 2021.
• Seasonal job searches are skyrocketing, making up 18% more of total job seeker activity compared to last year, which means stiffer competition for those coveted holiday gigs!
• Retail is leading the charge, with seasonal postings in this sector climbing eight percentage points above last year’s figures.

This year, the demand for holiday jobs has bounced back to levels we saw before the pandemic, providing a welcome sigh of relief from the heated job market of 2021. However, with more job seekers eyeing seasonal roles than ever, the labor landscape for 2024 is gearing up to be fiercely competitive.

A Return to Pre-Pandemic Seasonal Job Postings

Traditionally, seasonal job postings begin to ramp up in September and peak in November, offering a sneak peek into the holiday hiring frenzy. This year, we’ve witnessed a resurgence, with job postings for Christmas and seasonal employment returning to pre-pandemic levels that mirror last year’s trends. Employers are cautiously optimistic going into the holidays, but the rapid hiring pace we saw in previous years has certainly mellowed.

Retail Takes the Lead in Seasonal Hiring

If there’s one industry that’s truly getting into the holiday spirit, it’s retail. With retail sales maintaining their strength despite economic uncertainties, employers are feeling confident that this trend will continue through the holiday season. As of September 24, 2024, retail accounted for a whopping 66% of all seasonal job postings, a notable increase of nearly eight percentage points compared to last year and four points above pre-pandemic levels.

While retail shines, the sales sector has taken a hit, now making up just 10% of seasonal job opportunities—down three points from last year. This shift is in line with broader hiring trends, where demand for retail talent continues to outpace other sectors.

Holiday Job Searches Hit New Heights

Job seekers are eagerly hunting for seasonal work, with searches for holiday postings surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Any lingering fears about in-person roles, especially in retail, appear to have faded as interest in seasonal jobs reached its highest point in recent years. However, this surge in searches comes amid a decrease in available positions compared to 2022 and 2021, leading to heightened competition for seasonal roles.

Wrapping It Up

The seasonal hiring data paints a picture similar to the overall labor market—one that’s mixed with uncertainty. While demand may have cooled, the supply of eager workers is robust. The retail sector remains optimistic that holiday spending will remain strong, and demand for labor is returning to where it was in 2019. However, as the number of seasonal job postings stabilizes, the competition for those roles is heating up, with interest reaching unprecedented levels. If you’re on the hunt for seasonal employment, get ready for a competitive race. For employers, this means a larger pool of job seekers to choose from!

Methodology

Seasonal job postings refer to those featuring holiday-related terms in the job title, including “holiday,” “seasonal,” and “Christmas.” Definitions may vary slightly each year, thus earlier holiday hiring analyses might not be directly comparable. Seasonal job searches are defined as those containing one or more of the same holiday-related terms.

Please note that job posting numbers are provided solely for informational purposes and do not indicate potential revenue or earnings.