Christmas job searches hit nine-year high as employers prepare for busy festive season

• Jobseeker searches for Christmas roles up 28% year-on-year, accounting for 0.8% of all searches on Indeed in the UK
• Seasonal job postings rising steadily, up 16% on last year
• Retail, logistics and hospitality dominate top seasonal employers
• High interest suggests strong hiring conditions for businesses, but greater competition for candidates

More jobseekers than ever are hunting for seasonal work this year, with searches for Christmas jobs on Indeed reaching their highest level in at least nine years, according to new data from the world’s leading matching and hiring site.

As of 3rd October, searches for Christmas jobs accounted for 0.8% of all UK job searches, up 28% on the same time last year and the highest share observed since comparable data began in 2018. The surge in interest suggests that cost-of-living pressures and a softer jobs market are prompting more people to seek temporary work over the festive period.

Despite this surge in jobseeker interest, seasonal job opportunities are not quite so abundant, meaning demand for festive roles is outpacing supply.

Hiring momentum builds

Employers are also stepping up recruitment for the seasonal rush. Holiday job postings represented 0.6% of all UK vacancies on Indeed as of early October – 16% higher than a year ago – indicating healthy hiring activity ahead of the Christmas peak. While slightly below pre-pandemic levels, the current pace reflects strong business confidence in a busy trading season.

Who’s hiring and for what roles?

Retailers continue to dominate the seasonal jobs market, with high-street brands, supermarkets and logistics firms featuring prominently among the top employers. The most common seasonal roles include sales assistants, merchandisers and retail advisors.

Balancing demand and competition

The elevated level of jobseeker interest suggests that employers may find it easier to fill seasonal positions this year. However, it also means stiffer competition among candidates, with more people vying for a limited number of temporary roles compared with recent years.

Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist at Indeed, said: “Christmas hiring is off to a strong start this year, but the gap between people looking for work and the number of roles available is widening. For many, seasonal jobs are becoming a way to bridge the gap between longer-term opportunities, particularly as the wider jobs market remains subdued.

“That means greater competition for each role, but also a chance for jobseekers to stand out. Employers often use the festive period to identify reliable, proactive workers they want to keep on beyond December – so bringing full-time energy and showing you’re part of the team can make all the difference.”