Seasonal job postings run 10% ahead of last year: Indeed
- Seasonal postings on Indeed were up about 10% year on year as of Sept. 30.
- Postings ran roughly 7% ahead of 2019 levels.
- Loading and stocking roles are about 9% of seasonal postings, up from 3.5% in 2019.
- Desktop searches for seasonal and holiday jobs rose about 28%.
TEXAS, UNITED STATES — Seasonal hiring in the United States is off to its strongest start in several years, with seasonal job postings on Indeed up about 10% from a year earlier as of Sept. 30. Some large retailers are posting fewer seasonal roles but more part-time ones, a sign they may expect demand to last into 2027.
Ahead of last year and 2019
Seasonal postings were also running roughly 7% ahead of 2019 levels, according to Indeed Hiring Lab. They typically appear in August and build from mid-September through mid-November as retailers and shippers staff up for the holidays.
This year, postings started in August at a higher level than in recent years, fell back in line with past seasons for a few weeks, then broke higher again in late September. “The early lead relative to recent years could fade, but it’s a good start,” Hiring Lab wrote.
Fewer seasonal labels, more part-time
At a group of large employers, mostly retailers, about 20% of postings at the end of September were labeled seasonal, down from 34% a year earlier. Part-time labels rose from 38% to 49% of their postings, while the full-time share held at about 20%.
Part-time jobs are less likely than seasonal ones to end with the holidays, which suggests some employers expect demand to hold up well into 2027, Hiring Lab said. One of last year’s most active seasonal recruiters has yet to post a meaningful number of seasonal jobs this year.
The warehouse takes a bigger share
Retail accounted for a little over 61% of seasonal jobs this year, compared with about two-thirds in 2019. Loading and stocking roles, the warehouse work behind online orders, now make up about 9% of seasonal postings, up from 3.5% in 2019.
Job seekers are leaning in, with desktop searches for seasonal and holiday jobs up 28% year over year. “Clearly, an extra paycheck matters after years of stubborn inflation and the recent spike in energy costs, especially during an already-expensive season,” Hiring Lab wrote.
Beyond retail, common seasonal roles include customer service representatives, unloaders and delivery drivers. Hiring Lab advised employers to post early and spell out the pay, the hours and whether a job can lead to something longer.
For employers, the early start means more competition for seasonal and part-time staff through the peak. Companies that need extra customer service capacity for the holidays, or temporary cover through a staffing agency, can compare providers on the top BPO companies worldwide list.
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- Philippine BPOs ramp up holiday-season mass hiring · 17 Sep
- U.S. retail hiring sends mixed signals: Indeed Hiring Lab · 12 Sep
Disclosure: Outsource Accelerator uses AI tools in the backend of its editorial workflow. Every article is reviewed and verified by a human editor before publication.
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