Holiday Hiring Is Down 2.5%. Teens Can Build Their Own Seasonal Job.

Maybe you've thought about getting a holiday job. Wrapping gifts at a store. Stocking shelves. Handing out hot cocoa samples.

Here's the catch: this year, stores are hiring fewer helpers than usual. That doesn't mean you can't earn money this season. It means you might need to be the boss of your own job.

Let's look at what the numbers say, then build a plan you can start this weekend.

Seasonal hiring plans for the last three months of 2026 are projected to fall 2.5 percent from last year. That's from a report by WDBO on October 6, citing predictions from the consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. The report expects about 450,000 new seasonal jobs.

Why fewer? The article says retailers are likely to lean on current workers and on-demand worker pools, and that high prices and supply chain problems make them cautious. Spirit Halloween and Michaels had announced seasonal hiring plans, while Amazon and Bath & Body Works hadn't yet.

Fewer jobs means more competition. If you're a teenager applying against adults, it can feel like a long shot.

Similar trends show up elsewhere. Onrec reported on October 15, citing Indeed data, that UK seasonal job postings were 43 percent below their 2018 level as of October 2. The wider UK jobs market was 32 percent below its 2018 level, so seasonal jobs fell even more.

But here's an interesting twist. Searches for Christmas jobs held strong. They made up 0.6 percent of all UK searches on Indeed, one of the strongest early-October shares since at least 2018. In plain words: lots of people want these jobs, and there are fewer to go around.

The article also says weaker seasonal hiring narrows the routes into work for students, since seasonal jobs are often a first work experience.

Challenger's 2026 Teen Summer Job Outlook gives a bigger picture. It predicted 790,000 teen jobs for May through July 2026, slightly below the 801,000 added in summer 2025. If that happened, it would be the lowest summer total since records began in 1948.

The report also says teen labor force participation was 29.5 percent in April 2026, compared with more than 50 percent in the late 1970s and 1980s. Fewer teens are working today than their grandparents' generation.

Reasons listed include rising prices, AI taking over some entry-level tasks, older workers staying employed longer, and teens' busy schedules. None of that is your fault. It's just the situation, and situations have workarounds.

A job is just someone paying you to solve a problem. You don't need a store to do that.

Think about what people need between now and the holidays: leaves raked, gifts wrapped, decorations hung, pets walked while families travel, cards addressed. Those are real problems, and neighbors will pay to be rid of them.

Being your own boss also teaches things a store job might not. You'll set prices, find customers, keep promises and count your money. Those are the same skills that run big companies.

There's a bonus, too. When you can say "I started a gift wrapping service and made 60 dollars," you've got a story. Future employers, scholarship committees and even your future self will remember it longer than "I worked a register for a week."

1. Gift wrapping. Buy paper and tape once, then charge per gift or per box. Offer pickup and drop-off.

2. Leaf and yard cleanup. Needs a rake and bags. Ask a parent to help you pick safe jobs.

3. Holiday decoration help. Hanging lights is a skill that needs adult supervision and ladder safety. Maybe start with indoor decorating, such as setting up a tree.

4. Pet visits. Many families travel during holidays. Feeding a cat or walking a dog is a steady job.

5. Card and address service. Offer to write envelopes by hand for neighbors who send cards. Neat handwriting is the product.

Pick one. Doing one thing well beats five things badly.

If you're stuck choosing, ask yourself three quick questions. Which of these could I do well with supplies I already have? Which one do my neighbors seem to need most? And which one would I still be happy doing on a cold Saturday morning? The answer that wins two out of three is usually your starting point. You can always add a second service in week three, once the first one runs smoothly.

Start by checking what existing jobs pay. Indeed Flex's holiday page lists retail assistants at about 13 to 18 dollars an hour and baristas at 13 to 19. It also says holiday shifts often pay 1.5 to 2 times regular rates. The page notes that its content is AI-assisted and may be out of date, so use these figures as a rough guide, not a promise.

Now work out your costs. Say you buy wrapping paper for 12 dollars and tape for 4. That's 16 dollars. If you charge 3 dollars per gift, you need about six gifts just to break even. Every gift after that is profit.

Charging less than the going rate to get started is fine. Charging less than your costs isn't.

Start with people who already know you. Challenger's advice for teen job seekers works for business owners too: ask family, coaches, teachers and people you already know for introductions.

Write a short message you can send a parent to forward: "Hi, I'm Maya, 14, and I'm offering gift wrapping for 3 dollars a gift through December 20. I can pick up and deliver. Here's my number."

Notice that it names the service, the price, the end date and how to reach you. That's a complete offer.

Ask each happy customer for one referral. A single recommendation from a neighbor beats any flyer.

Timing matters here. Challenger notes that June is the most popular hiring month for summer jobs, and the holiday season works the same way: the early bird gets the customers. Send your first messages in the next week or two, before neighbors have already booked someone else or finished their shopping.

Take a notebook or a simple spreadsheet. Make three columns: money in, money out, and what's left.

At the end of each week, add it up. That "what's left" number is your profit. Decide in advance how you'll split it. One idea: some to save, some to spend, some to give. A family planner or tool like Foundra can help older kids map out a small business plan, though a notebook works perfectly well for a first season.

Do a quick review at the end of the season. Which service earned the most per hour? Which customers were easiest? Which job did you enjoy? Write down two things to keep and one to change. Next year's version of your business starts with this note, and it's how real companies plan too.

Safety note: always tell a parent where you're going and who you're working for.

Fewer holiday jobs doesn't mean fewer chances to earn. Look for problems people will pay to solve. Start small, charge fairly, cover your costs and keep track of every dollar. And treat every customer well, because they might need you again next year.

How much is holiday hiring expected to drop in 2026? WDBO reported on October 6 that Q4 seasonal hiring plans are projected to fall 2.5 percent from last year, with about 450,000 new seasonal jobs expected.

Are UK holiday jobs down too? Onrec reported that UK seasonal postings were 43 percent below 2018 levels as of October 2, based on Indeed data.

What is the difference between a job and a micro-business? In a job, an employer pays you. In a micro-business, customers pay you directly and you decide the prices, the schedule and how to find customers.

How do I know if I'm making a profit? Subtract your costs from the money you earned. If the number left over is above zero, you've made a profit.

What age can I start a small business? Rules vary by place, and parents should be involved for kids. Start with simple services for neighbors and ask an adult before you take on anything involving ladders, tools or strangers.

Is the pay rate on holiday job sites reliable? Treat it as a rough guide. Indeed Flex's page itself says its content may be out of date, so compare with local offers.

1. Data shows fewer Americans set to be hired this holiday season, WDBO, October 6, 2026
2. Christmas jobs squeeze: seasonal postings remain 43% below 2018 despite strong jobseeker interest, Onrec, October 15, 2026
3. Holiday Season 2026 Hiring, Indeed Flex Career Hub
4. 2026 Teen Summer Job Outlook, Challenger, Gray & Christmas, May 2026