Lower and longer spikes in Christmas hiring

A new report has shown just how Christmas hiring has changed compared to previous years.

According to the report, hiring at this time of year is more modest than in 2023, which will be due to the challenging economy, but it’s also been suggested that more employers are getting better at forecasting their staff needs ahead of Christmas, without needing to rush to the job market.

The latest Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) and Lightcast Labour Market Tracker shows that, unsurprisingly, the most in-demand roles from October to November are for delivery drivers and couriers – up 101%.

Figures also show a 28% increase for postal workers, mail sorters, messengers and couriers, and a 26.5% rise in delivery operatives.

The hospitality and catering, and retail sectors also saw higher demand.

REC Chief Executive Neil Carberry, said, “We are seeing lower and longer spikes in Christmas hiring in recent years because employers are getting better at planning their workforce needs, such as extending temporary contracts rather than hitting the job market late in the year.

“But as always, it is temporary workers who will be delivering Christmas this year, given the many seasonal roles available, and our latest Recruitment Industry Status Report finding that, on any given day in 2023, 1,058,300 temporary or contract workers were on assignment in the UK.

“We want to thank them for their work, and remind policymakers that the temporary work they value is hugely important to both our economy and people’s ability to manage their lives.”

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