As the 2025 holiday shopping season looms, major U.S. retailers are taking a surprisingly cautious stance on seasonal hiring. Data shows retail job postings are at their weakest level since 2009.
Key highlights
- Hiring at some large chains like Amazon (~250,000 hires), Bath & Body Works (~32,000) and Dick’s Sporting Goods (~14,000) is still substantial, but many others such as Target and Walmart are leaning on extra hours for existing staff instead of hiring new seasonal workers.
- According to job‑site analysis, Indeed listed fewer seasonal retail job openings this October compared with the same period over the previous four years.
- Industry analysts attribute this pull‑back to broader labor market stagnation and uncertainty over consumer spending heading into the holiday season.
Why it matters for omnichannel retail
Labor remains a significant cost and execution lever for omnichannel fulfilment — especially in roles like in‑store pickup, curbside fulfilment, returns processing, and digital order‑flow.
If hiring is constrained, retailers may struggle to scale these critical services seamlessly, potentially undermining customer experience or forcing costly overtime or subcontracting.
Key takeaway
Retailers are entering the most important quarter of the year with a leaner staffing plan. For strategy leaders, this underscores the importance of optimizing fulfilment workflows, leveraging automation where possible, and ensuring peak‑season customer experience does not erode under tight labour conditions.
