US Employers Expected to Hire Fewer Seasonal Workers

Facts

Several major US employers — including the US Postal Service and department store chain Macy’s — are planning to hire fewer seasonal workers than last year in a sign that the labor market is cooling.¹
In low numbers not seen since 2013, companies plan to hire 573K season workers this year, a decrease of 60% from 2021 levels.¹
Retailers who once struggled to find staff during the height of the COVID pandemic have now found it easier to hire and retain people as the end of pandemic aid and relief programs have pushed people back to work.²
In addition to companies catching up on their pandemic staffing shortfalls, companies have slowed their hiring because consumer spending is predicted to dip in the final months of the year after a blockbuster summer.³
One exception to the slowdown in hiring by retailers is e-commerce giant Amazon, which plans to hire 250k full-time, part-time and seasonal workers this season to ensure timely delivery of holiday gifts.⁴

Republican narrative, as provided by Washington Examiner. The Biden administration and Democrats' slow-grind strategy for bringing inflation down is going to spoil consumers’ holiday shopping. High-interest rates are already tightening people's spending budgets, and now consumers are going to face less assistance and longer lines in stores because of the slowdown in hiring.
Democratic narrative, as provided by Pennsylvania Capital. The Biden administration's approach to cooling inflation and bringing the economy back is working, as evidenced by employment in the retail industry and sales growth staying steady all year. If anything, Republicans' refusal to go along with the president's plans for student loan forgiveness is responsible for hurting spending. With student loan payments back on, consumers are less likely to spend on purchases.