Retailers Slow on Holiday Hiring Announcements as Seasonal Job Forecasts Dip Below 2025 Levels

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 26, 2026

Public seasonal hiring commitments from U.S. retailers 'remain thin' heading into Q4 2026, with Challenger, Gray & Christmas projecting roughly 450,000 retail jobs added in the final quarter — below the 461,500 seasonal roles added in Q4 2025, itself the smallest seasonal gain since 2008. Major retailers including Amazon, Target, Kohl's, and Bath & Body Works have yet to disclose headcounts, a trend Challenger attributes to a shift toward flexible, on-demand staffing models and ongoing tariff and automation pressures. Exceptions include Spirit Halloween (52,000 hires), Michaels (10,000+), and Fort Wayne-based Sweetwater, which is hosting a job fair to fill 100+ seasonal distribution center roles starting at $16–$18.50/hour. Staffing agencies serving retail clients should expect a more surgical, late-breaking seasonal ramp rather than the large early commitments of prior years.