Retailers are ramping up seasonal hiring as they prepare for a historic holiday sales period. The National Retail Federation forecasts holiday retail sales will exceed $1 trillion for the first time ever. Major companies are expanding their workforces to meet the surge in demand.
Major Hiring Announcements
UPS plans to hire 100,000 workers for peak shipping needs. Amazon will add 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time workers, a 20% increase from last year. Retail chains like Macy’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Foot Locker have also begun staffing their stores.
Spirit Halloween is making its largest hiring effort yet, seeking over 52,000 seasonal associates for its 1,500 stores across the U.S. and Canada. Michaels started hiring in September for more than 10,000 roles, with nearly half converting to permanent jobs after last year’s season. As the 2026 holiday shopping season approaches, retailers and logistics companies are adapting their workforce strategies to match evolving consumer habits and supply chain demands.
A Shift in Workforce Strategy
Savannah Wei Shi, an associate professor at Santa Clara University, noted the main change isn’t just headcount. It’s how retailers allocate labor across different channels. According to Indeed Hiring Lab, seasonal warehouse roles now make up 9% of retail postings, up from 3.5% in 2019. This shows e-commerce companies are focusing on back-end fulfillment and logistics.
Matt Wilkerson, director at HireQuest, said distribution activity remains strong, especially in e-commerce fulfillment and warehousing. Employers need extra labor during peak times but are seeking flexible staffing solutions rather than maintaining large permanent staffs.
Physical retailers are taking a more targeted approach. They’re using existing staff, flexible scheduling, and cross-training to handle tasks like pickup and returns. This strategy focuses on operational volume and customer friction points rather than just adding sales floor staff.
A Younger Workforce
Trent Cotton, head of talent insights at ICIMS, said retailers need a more strategic approach to hiring due to uncertain consumer demand. The pool of seasonal applicants is also changing. Candidates aged 18-24 now make up 40% of retail applicants, up from 37% a year ago.
“Who’s applying matters,” Cotton said. As Gen Z’s share grows, retailers must adapt their hiring process. They need clear communication about pay and job requirements, plus an easy application process. Spirit Halloween allows applicants to text “REAPER” to 85000 for seasonal jobs.
Shi said this year’s hiring reflects cautious optimism. Consumers are still spending but are more price-sensitive due to inflation fatigue. They time purchases for big sales events and spread spending across the season. Maintaining a flexible workforce helps retailers protect margins while capitalizing on sudden demand surges.
