From retailers pulling back on large hiring announcements to the creation of more part-time roles, here’s why 2026 might be a tipping point for seasonal staffing.

For decades, holiday hiring followed a familiar rhythm. In the fall, retailers would begin posting jobs asking for seasonal workers in anticipation of long lines, a rush of in-store shoppers and — later on — the need for extra hands to help with e-commerce fulfillment.

But the nature of that tradition is beginning to change as more retailers switch their staffing strategies. Some companies are bumping up their numbers throughout the year and therefore don’t have to hire as many people during the fourth quarter. Others are increasing the number of part-time workers they hire, according to experts. Some roles are being pulled from brick-and-mortar locations and instead are becoming warehouse jobs to support operations.

These realities don't mean that holiday hiring is going away. Retailers are still expected to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal workers, which is in-line with the number of hires in 2025, according to The National Retail Federation. Also similar to last year, retailers are remaining cautious due to gas prices, inflation, higher interest rates and elevated consumer debt. All those factors equate to a “measured approach to seasonal hiring,” per the trade group.

While overall seasonal job postings on Indeed were up about 10% year over year as of the end of September, retailers in particular are relying less on seasonal postings than they did a year ago.

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