London, 15th October 2026 – 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 |
|---|---|
| Seasonal associate | £13.66 |
| Sales assistant | £13.13 |
| Operations assistant | £17.84 |
| Retail sales associate | £13.41 |
| Sales advisor | £12.71 |
| Client advisor | £12.71 |
| Sales associate | £13.00 |
| Coffee shop assistant | £13.18 |
| Mail sorter | £15.08 |
| 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.
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.”
Key takeaways
- Christmas-job searches are holding up, but seasonal postings are 43% below their 2018 level.
- Retail, sales and logistics roles dominate seasonal hiring, with operations assistant roles carrying the highest average hourly salary in the top ten.
- The decline in seasonal and graduate vacancies is narrowing important entry routes into employment for younger workers.
Methodology
This analysis is based on Indeed in the UK as of 2 October 2026. Seasonal job postings were defined as those with one or more holiday-related terms in the job title, including, but not limited to, “seasonal,” “Christmas” and “Santa.” Seasonal job searches were defined as those containing one or more of a similar list of holiday-related terms. Both are shown as a share of all UK postings or searches on Indeed, as a seven-day average, and are not seasonally adjusted.
*Salary figures reflect data listed on Indeed Salaries at time of writing (12 October 2026). Salaries may vary depending on the hiring organisation and a candidate's experience, academic background and location.
About Indeed
More people get jobs on Indeed than anywhere else. As the world’s #1 job site (Comscore, Total Visits, March 2026), Indeed is a global hiring platform connecting over 665 million Job Seeker Profiles with 3.5 million employers across more than 60 countries. Indeed uses AI and real-time data to match people with relevant opportunities and help employers hire faster.
With platforms including Glassdoor and Indeed Flex, Indeed is reshaping how people discover jobs, research companies, and access flexible work. Indeed is a subsidiary of Recruit Holdings, a global leader in HR technology and business solutions dedicated to simplifying hiring and transforming the world of work.
