Retailers to Hire Fewest Seasonal Workers Since 2009
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas projects U.S. retailers will add fewer than 500,000 seasonal workers in the fourth quarter of 2025 — the smallest seasonal hiring gain since 2009 — citing tariffs, lingering inflation, and increased automation. The forecast comes as August payrolls were weak (22,000 jobs added) and Consumer Price Index data show inflation edging up to 2.9% year‑over‑year.
Economy
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📰 Sources (1)
Seasonal hiring could fall to lowest level since 2009, analysis finds
New information:
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas projects under 500,000 seasonal retail hires in Q4 2025 — the lowest since 2009 and about 16 years low.
- Employers added only 22,000 jobs in August 2025; CPI rose 2.9% year-over-year in August 2025.
- Q4 2024 seasonal hiring was just over 543,000 (roughly 4% below 2023); University of Michigan survey found only 24% of consumers expect to spend as usual on tariff‑affected goods.