This Year’s Holiday Hiring Trends for 2023

The holiday season is basically upon us, but for many, this time of year comes with added financial stress. Whether you’re looking to buy flights, gifts, or simply enough food to feed everyone an elaborate turkey dinner—the costs can start to add up.

Which is why so many Americans look for seasonal work in the fall. But as it gets closer to that classically pocket-draining time of year, you should be aware of this year’s holiday hiring trends, and how they may differ from previous seasons.

Job Market Overview

According to the latest numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job openings increased to around 9.6 million as of the end of August. Other reports show that in September, there were approximately 6.05 million unemployed Americans looking for work.

This is generally good news for job seekers more broadly, but what about people just looking for a seasonal gig?

Unfortunately, those numbers are less promising.

Based on research from last month, it was estimated that there were only going to be 410,000 seasonal positions available this year—the lowest number of holiday jobs added since 2008. That said, later reporting did appear more positive, with some tracking data showing there would be roughly 553,000 seasonal positions this year. Even the latter number, however, is down from last year.

But before you let these numbers dissuade you from looking for seasonal work, you should know there are still plenty of stores adding new jobs over the holidays. Read on for a list of companies looking for holiday hires, plus a few ideas for out-of-the-box ways to put a little extra money in your pocket!

Stores Hiring for the Holidays

Regardless of overall hiring trends, major retailers and companies are still hoping to bring on hundreds of thousands of workers to bolster their holiday employment. Here are the main ones:

1. Amazon — Unlike some of the other retailers on this list, Amazon is actually adding more seasonal workers to their roster than last year. With a projected 250,000 new job openings (100,000 more than in 2022), they are by far your best chance to land seasonal work. They are also increasing their base pay for drivers to $20.50 an hour.
2. Target — Target has announced plans to offer the same number of seasonal jobs as last year—100,000—as well as provide more hours and flexible schedules for their existing employees this year.
3. UPS — As per usual, UPS anticipates there being an increased demand for couriers as the holiday season approaches, and they are planning on hiring more than 100,000 new workers at a higher pay than last year (between $21 and $23 an hour).
4. Michaels, Joanns, and Other Craft Stores — While these retailers haven’t provided any official numbers for how many holiday staff members they plan to bring on, craft stores in general get very busy over the holiday season. Previous years’ reporting shows these stores tend to bring in thousands of new employees during this time of year.
5. Shopping Centers and Malls — For years, people have been projecting the downfall of traditional malls, outlets, and major shopping centers. While these retail outlets have been hit hard by the rise of online shopping, they aren’t gone for good. In fact, new research shows that foot-traffic in malls is actually on the rise. A quick google search for ‘seasonal jobs near me’ will likely also demonstrate the resilience of malls, seeing as mall staples like Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Forever 21 are all looking for holiday hires all over the country.

Some Out-of-the-Box Holiday Job Ideas

If none of the retailers listed above are hiring in your area, it’s not the end of the world. Assuming you like the idea of having a traditional hourly job this season, try asking around at your local boutiques or gift shops.

Aside from traditional retail jobs, you could also look into driving for a ride-share service. Many people travel during the holidays and rely heavily on ride-share apps instead of renting a car, so this holiday season might be the perfect time to sign up as an Uber or Lyft driver.

Lastly, if you’d like to earn some cash and also serve your community, perhaps set up a snow shoveling service in your neighborhood, or assist in putting up holiday decorations.

If you're searching for a seasonal role but want to find something more permanent, check out our open roles through CyberCoders. Let us help you take the next step in your career as well as the next step towards a stress-free holiday season!