🎄 Christmas & Jobs — What’s Going On This Season

✅ Surge in Christmas-Season Jobs

Major employers like Tesco have announced hiring over 28,500 temporary staff across the UK for the 2025 Christmas season.
More broadly, demand for seasonal work this year is notably high — as of early October 2025, searches for Christmas jobs made up about 0.8% of all UK job-searches, up roughly 28 % compared with the same time last year.
For many people — students, part-time workers, those wanting extra income over the holidays — these temporary roles offer a timely opportunity.

📈 Seasonal Work Still Matters, Despite Overall Challenges

According to a recent labour-market tracker from REC, retail, logistics and hospitality remain among the sectors with the highest number of job postings going into the festive season — reflecting ongoing demand despite a slower labour market overall.
That said, one recent report suggested that the number of temporary workers in the UK had dropped (as of September 2024) compared with the previous year — showing the market remains somewhat volatile.

🧑‍💼 Christmas Jobs as Pathways, Not Just Short-Term Gigs

For many employers, seasonal roles are more than just short-term cover: they’re increasingly viewed as a “pipeline” for longer-term hiring. A recent analysis found a rising number of graduates and out-of-work professionals are applying for Christmas jobs.
For the right people (reliable, flexible, good at customer service or logistics), temporary Christmas employment can lead to permanent roles — so it’s an opportunity worth considering seriously this year.

⚠️ But It’s Not All Easy: Challenges & Pressures

Many businesses find it hard to recruit — around 75% of surveyed small- and medium-sized firms express concern about finding enough staff for Christmas.
For workers, the festive season can bring increased workload and stress; some sectors report rising pressure on work-life balance, especially in more demanding industries like media, retail, and HR.

Sources