The UK’s seasonal jobs market remains subdued, even as jobseeker interest in Christmas work holds up, according to new data from hiring platform Indeed.
As of the 2nd October, seasonal job postings were 43% below their 2018 level – a steeper decline than across the wider UK jobs market, where postings have fallen 32% over the same period.
Meanwhile, search levels remain broadly in line with last year. The 2025 and 2026 readings were the two strongest early-October shares recorded since at least 2018.
Despite strong jobseeker interest, the subdued seasonal jobs market comes amid wider weakness in UK hiring. Overall UK job postings are down 11% since the start of 2026 and stand 32% below their February 2020 baseline.
The decline reflects broader pressure on hiring, with most occupational categories recording year-on-year falls, including retail and hospitality. Employers continue to operate in an environment characterised by economic uncertainty and cost pressures.
The most in-demand seasonal roles
Retail and sales roles dominate the most common seasonal job titles, with seasonal associate being the most in-demand job title, followed by sales assistant and operations assistant. The logistics side also makes it into the top ten this year, with operations assistants, mail sorters and seasonal warehouse associates appearing among the most common titles.
| The most in-demand seasonal jobs and the average hourly salaries* | |
| Job title | Average hourly salary |
| £13.66 |
| 2. Sales assistant | £13.13 |
| 3. Operations assistant | £17.84 |
| 4. Retail sales associate | £13.41 |
| 5. Sales advisor | £12.71 |
| 6. Client advisor | £12.71 |
| 7. Sales associate | £13.00 |
| 8. Coffee shop assistant | £13.18 |
| 9. Mail sorter | £15.08 |
| 10. Seasonal warehouse associate | £13.37 |
Entry routes into employment are narrowing
The weakness in seasonal hiring forms part of a broader reduction in opportunities for younger workers. Graduate job postings are down around 13% year-on-year as of 2nd October and stand at their lowest level for this point in the year since 2020. Summer job postings, covering temporary and seasonal roles in sectors including hospitality, retail, tourism and events, had one of their weakest summers in four years.
Together, the findings point to a tightening of two important entry routes into employment: graduates are competing for fewer early-career roles, while students and school leavers are facing reduced access to the seasonal jobs that often provide their first experience of work.
Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist at Indeed, said: “Subdued seasonal hiring echoes a generally weak UK labour market. Seasonal job postings remain low even as searches for Christmas work are among the strongest for early October since at least 2018. For people relying on seasonal work to help manage household costs at an expensive time of year, that could mean greater competition for available roles.”
“Hiring demand remains muted across most parts of the economy, while cost of living pressures persist amid rising inflation. The data suggests that young people and other jobseekers looking for a temporary bridge into work are facing a narrower set of opportunities.”
