Marketplace All-in-One Why are retailers hiring fewer seasonal workers?
Nov 19, 2025
Savannah Peters, a Marketplace reporter, dives into the reasons behind retailers' decision to hire fewer seasonal workers this holiday season. She highlights how uncertainty from tariffs, declining consumer confidence, and lack of government data are impacting hiring decisions. The National Retail Federation predicts the lowest number of temporary hires in 15 years. Peters also discusses the potential consequences for job seekers, particularly younger and older workers, and how retailers might fill the labor gaps through automation and adjusting current staff hours.
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Holiday Hiring Pullback From Uncertainty
- Retailers are hiring far fewer seasonal workers because high uncertainty is making them cautious about staffing decisions.
- Tariffs, slipping consumer confidence, and missing government data combine to blunt employers' hiring plans.
Lowest Seasonal Hiring In 15 Years
- The National Retail Federation projects fewer than 365,000 temporary hires, the lowest in 15 years.
- The NRF still expects holiday sales to top $1 trillion, suggesting revenue may reflect inflation not volume.
Sales Growth May Be Inflation, Not Traffic
- Higher dollar sales could be driven by inflation rather than more shoppers or items sold.
- Forrester's Sucharita Kodali warns revenue growth doesn't necessarily mean increased consumer demand.