Seasonal job searches are up 14 percent and UPS is hiring 100,000 people — apply now or wait for the November peak?
Holiday job hunting started early this year. Search interest in seasonal jobs is up 14 percent from the same week last year and running about a week ahead of 2025. The fastest-rising searches name employers: UPS seasonal jobs up 250 percent (UPS says it will hire 100,000 seasonal workers), Bath and Body Works up 180, Macys up 160, USPS up 150, Costco up 120, Target up 100. But the peak search weeks are still ahead, in the first half of November. If I want a seasonal gig, do I apply now while postings are fresh, or wait until November when more roles open and I can compare offers?
1 answer
- Apply now, to the boring one
The November peak is when shoppers show up, not when hiring happens. UPS hiring 100,000 people means those slots fill on a rolling basis, and the good shifts go first. Apply to UPS or USPS this week, keep the retail applications as backup. Waiting to compare offers sounds smart until the only shifts left are overnight in a warehouse an hour away.