Seasonal Job Postings Up 10% Year Over Year, Indeed Data Shows

Seasonal job postings on Indeed were up about 10% year over year as of September 30, 2026, and running roughly 7% ahead of 2019 levels — the strongest start to a holiday hiring season in several years. Job seekers are matching that pace: desktop searches for seasonal and holiday jobs climbed 28% from last year.

Behind the headline number sits a more interesting story. A group of large employers, mostly retailers, is posting far fewer seasonal jobs than a year ago. One of last year's most active seasonal recruiters has yet to post a meaningful number of seasonal roles in 2026. That may sound like an ominous sign for the labor market. A closer look tells a different story.

What does the shift from seasonal to part-time mean?

These large employers are still hiring — just differently. At the end of September 2025, about 34% of their postings carried an explicitly seasonal label. This year that share has fallen to about 20%. Over the same period, part-time labels rose from 38% to 49% of postings, while full-time held steady at about 20%.

The distinction matters for anyone weighing an offer. Unlike seasonal jobs, part-time jobs are less likely to end when the holiday season does. The shift suggests at least some employers expect demand to hold up well into 2027 — a potential signal of confidence rather than retreat.

Some of the change may simply reflect timing, but the move toward part-time roles is worth watching through the final months of 2026.

Where are seasonal jobs moving?

Retail still anchors the seasonal market, but its gravity has weakened. In 2019, retail accounted for about two-thirds of all seasonal jobs; this year it sits at just over 61%. Much of that share has migrated to loading and stocking — the warehouse work behind every online order — which now represents about 9% of seasonal postings, up from 3.5% in 2019.

The data send a clear signal: the holiday shopping season is shifting toward e-commerce and fulfillment centers and away from sales floors.

The most prevalent seasonal titles this year are familiar ones: seasonal associate, seasonal retail sales associate, and sales associate. Outside retail, the top roles include customer service representative, unloader, and delivery driver. Titles such as stocker, seasonal warehouse associate, fulfillment associate, and inventory associate reflect the work behind the scenes of online shopping. Photographers also crack the top five among non-retail titles, possibly reflecting demand for holiday portraits, parties, and winter weddings.

Why are workers searching harder?

An extra paycheck matters after years of stubborn inflation and a recent spike in energy costs, especially during an already-expensive season. With the broader labor market stuck in a low-hire environment and annual inflation still well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, many workers are turning to seasonal work to supplement income.

Previous Indeed Hiring Lab research found that 16% of job seekers on Indeed already work at least two jobs, many of them in retail or other service-sector roles. For these workers, a part-time seasonal role can bring in extra money and open a door at a new employer without leaving the old one.

What does this change for job seekers and employers?

Both sides should move early. The biggest rise in seasonal postings typically occurs between mid-September and mid-November, and competition is likely to be stiff this year given the growing pool of applicants. Employers benefit from more interested workers but face rising demand from rival employers; posting early with a clear pitch on pay, hours, and potential for longer-term work will help them stand out.

Indeed defines seasonal postings as those with one or more holiday-related terms — such as "holiday," "seasonal," "temporary," or "Christmas" — in the job title; definitions may shift slightly year to year, so past holiday analyses are not directly comparable. Desktop searches are reported because a new "seasonal" quick-search option added to Indeed's mobile app in late 2025 broke year-over-year comparability on mobile.

In a season that started ahead of schedule, the early movers on both sides of the market are likely to come out ahead — and if the part-time shift holds, the momentum could carry well past this year's holiday shopping season.