Tariffs, uncertainty cool U.S. holiday hiring plans
AP reports that retailers are trimming or delaying seasonal hiring amid economic uncertainty and higher tariff costs, with Challenger, Gray & Christmas forecasting fewer than 500,000 holiday jobs — the smallest seasonal gain since 2009. Amazon will hire 250,000 workers (flat year over year), while firms like American Christmas LLC, Radial, and Bath & Body Works are cutting or delaying hires; Target, UPS and Macy’s declined to give figures.
Economy
Corporate News
📌 Key Facts
- Challenger, Gray & Christmas projects <500,000 seasonal hires for Q4 2025, below 543,000 in 2024 and lowest since 2009 (495,800).
- Amazon plans 250,000 seasonal jobs, unchanged from last year.
- American Christmas LLC will hire 220 temporary workers (vs. 300 last year) and delayed recruiting nearly two months to offset an expected $1.5 million tariff bill.
- Radial targets 6,500 hires (down from 7,000); Bath & Body Works plans 32,000 (down from 32,700); Target, UPS and Macy’s did not release targets.