New York, November 27, 2025
The 2025 holiday season is facing a notably challenging job market for seasonal workers across the United States, as fewer openings coincide with heightened competition amid an economic slowdown and evolving consumer behaviors. Employers are also hiring less urgently compared to recent years.
Fewer Jobs, More Competition
Holiday job postings in 2025 have risen marginally by 2.7% compared to last year but remain below pre-pandemic levels seen in 2019. Meanwhile, the volume of job seekers searching for holiday roles is substantially higher, up 27% from 2024 and 50% from 2023. This intensifying demand for seasonal employment contributes to a more competitive landscape, with applicants beginning their searches earlier in the year than previously typical.
Employer urgency for seasonal hires has diminished significantly. Only 2% of holiday job postings in September 2025 indicated they were “urgently hiring,” a sharp decline from 10% in 2021. The lower hiring urgency signals a cooling labor market and suggests companies are exercising greater caution in their recruitment strategies.
Sectoral Shifts: Retail Weakness Versus Logistics Growth
Retail is experiencing one of its weakest seasonal hiring periods since 2009. Major retailers, including Target, are reducing their intake of seasonal staff. While some chains such as Michaels and Bath & Body Works continue to add holiday workers, overall retail hiring remains suppressed, mirroring shifting consumer preferences.
Conversely, sectors linked to online shopping and logistics show resilience. E-commerce companies like Amazon maintain demand for warehouse workers and delivery personnel. These roles are expanding in contrast to the shrinking availability of in-store retail and food service positions.
Economic and Business Drivers
The underlying causes of these labor market trends are rooted in broader economic and consumer behavior changes. The U.S. labor market is slowing, with job growth at its lowest point since 2009. The unemployment rate rose to 4.3% as of August 2025, the highest level in nearly four years.
Consumers are increasingly favoring online shopping and travel expenditures during the holiday season rather than traditional brick-and-mortar retail. This change reduces seasonal employment opportunities in physical stores while driving up demand for logistics and delivery jobs.
Businesses are adopting more cautious hiring practices reflecting these uncertainties. Many are relying on more flexible, on-demand staffing models instead of committing to large seasonal workforces, further restricting traditional holiday job openings.
Implications for Job Seekers
Seasonal job seekers face heightened competition and fewer openings, necessitating proactive strategies. Starting the job search early—well before the typical November rush—is critical to securing positions. Flexibility in job type is increasingly important; applicants may improve their chances by considering roles beyond retail, such as in logistics, delivery, and tourism.
Strong applications and prompt responses to job postings can help candidates stand out amid this competitive environment. The 2025 holiday job market is a marker of the broader shifts reshaping labor demand across the economy.
As seasonal hiring trends continue to evolve with economic conditions and consumer patterns, job seekers and employers alike must adapt to a more nuanced and less predictable landscape. Despite these challenges, opportunities persist, particularly in online commerce and logistics sectors that reflect the ongoing transformation of the holiday economy.