US Seasonal Hiring Drops to Lowest September Level Since 2011

U.S. employers announced plans to hire 90,787 workers in September 2026, representing a 23% decline from 117,313 in September 2025 and marking the lowest September hiring total since 2011. Seasonal hiring announcements reached just 62,000 so far this year, down sharply from 100,800 recorded during the same period last year. Retail led all sectors last month with 65,150 announced openings, followed by aerospace and defense at 5,300.

The weak pullback in holiday recruitment reflects growing employer caution across the broader economy. Total hiring plans for the first nine months of 2026 stand at 210,612 workers, the second-lowest nine-month total in at least a decade, despite a modest 3% rise compared to the 204,939 plans announced through September 2025. Meanwhile, overall job cut announcements fell 18% in September from August to 43,281, suggesting companies prefer freezing new hiring rather than conducting widespread layoffs.

Investors should monitor whether muted holiday recruitment spills into broader workforce reductions or weaker holiday consumer spending. Artificial intelligence continues to reshape employment trends, accounting for 3,961 September job cuts and over 120,000 cuts year-to-date, representing roughly 21% of all announced reductions this year. Future labor market reports will show if full-time job growth and monthly openings can stabilize as the winter shopping season unfolds.