The number of job listings for the roles of “Santa Claus” and “Elf” is down compared to 2022, in a sign the retail sector is expecting lower footfall this Christmas.
According to jobs platform Indeed, listings are down 15% from 2022, as cost of living pressures threaten to spoil the Christmas cheer this year.
But the number of jobs advertised is still above pre-pandemic levels.
Indeed’s senior UK economist Jack Kennedy added that, while overall listings have been down, retailers started their search for Father Christmas earlier this year.
“That’s possibly a reflection of the fact that hiring conditions have been challenging. So perhaps they felt that it would be prudent to get all their ducks in a row early on.”
Kennedy said Santa jobs are typically listed at around £14 an hour, but a handful were paying significantly more.
“The highest I saw was about £27 an hour at a garden centre,” he said.
Average pay is up by 4.2%, but that’s well below the 7.7% average wage growth across the nation. It's also not enough to keep up with increases in the price of a mince pie, carrot and a glass of brandy, which have risen by about 15% since last Christmas, official figures suggest.
Overall, seasonal jobs are down by 19% on last year, while searches for roles over the Christmas period are up.
Kennedy said: “Christmas hiring is peaking as we approach the holidays. Strong seasonal job interest potentially reflects cost-of-living pressures, prompting more people to look to earn extra money over the festive period.
“However, workers may find themselves facing holiday hurdles when it comes to securing a role, with jobseeker interest in seasonal roles exceeding employer demand. With retail sales down at present, employers appear more cautious this holiday season.”
