during the busiest time of the year. The job site ZipRecruiter said retailers advertise 8.4 per cent fewer holiday jobs on its site than last year (Financial Times), while ads for temporary hospitality workers fell by 12 per cent.
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas predicts that US employers could hire fewer than 500,000 temporary workers in the last three months of 2025, the lowest total since 2009. Amazon said it will hire the same 250,000 seasonal workers this year as last year.
The latest indicators from the University of Michigan – from Bloomberg – are not positive: savings and ability to buy durable goods down and expectations of losing a job up.
Consumer sentiment is at its lowest level since June 2022. And Wendy’s will close hundreds of shops as consumers cut back on restaurant spending.(McDonald’s did better but)
Compiled 7 November, updated 8 November 2025
