The holiday shopping season is approaching, and retailers are preparing for another period of changing consumer behavior, increased demand and operational pressure.
The 2026 retail outlook remains relatively strong. The National Retail Federation (NRF) forecasts U.S. retail sales will grow 4.4% in 2026 to $5.6 trillion. At the same time, retailers are navigating a consumer landscape that is increasingly uneven, with shoppers continuing to spend while remaining focused on value.
For retailers, that means holiday staffing plans need to be flexible enough to respond to changing demand and prepared early enough to support stores, fulfillment operations and customer service throughout the season.
Here are several retail staffing trends to watch as the 2026 holiday season approaches.
2026 holiday retail trends to watch
Holiday shopping is starting earlier
The traditional holiday shopping period continues to stretch beyond November and December. Consumers have increasingly started shopping before November, while retailers have responded by launching promotions and stocking seasonal merchandise earlier.
This extended shopping window can create a longer period of elevated staffing needs rather than one concentrated holiday rush.
Retailers may need additional workers for merchandising, inventory, store preparation and fulfillment well before Black Friday. Planning ahead can help businesses build workforce capacity before demand peaks instead of waiting until staffing gaps become urgent.
E-commerce continues to shape retail staffing needs
Online shopping remains an important driver of retail operations. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, e-commerce sales increased 12.2% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, compared with 6.7% growth in total retail sales. E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of total retail sales during the quarter.
For retailers, that growth can translate into increased demand beyond the sales floor. Pickers, packers, sorters, loaders, inventory workers and other fulfillment roles can become especially important as online orders increase.
A strong holiday staffing strategy should account for both customer-facing retail locations and the warehouse and fulfillment operations supporting them.
Tips for successful holiday retail staffing
As your company navigates the challenges of the holiday season, effective recruitment and employee satisfaction are crucial.
So, how do you create a successful holiday retail staffing plan? Whether you’re staffing your retail stores, warehouses or fulfillment operations, consider these strategies:
Plan and forecast ahead of the holidays
Review last year’s holiday season to determine your busiest times. This can give you a clear idea of when you might need additional holiday workers.
Offer flexible scheduling options
Offer flexible scheduling options that accommodate workers’ personal commitments. This provides adequate coverage during your busy period and prevents burnout in your workforce.
Cross-train your workers
Ensure that your current team can handle tasks outside of their usual responsibilities. Employees with cross-training are better equipped to handle a variety of responsibilities, which means they can step in and fill gaps during emergencies or staffing shortages.
Provide support and guidance
Be sure to offer guidance on customer service techniques, product information and other details so your team will be well-prepared for increased holiday demands.
Prioritize employee morale
During the holiday season, it’s important to prioritize employee morale. Recognizing and rewarding hard work can create a positive work environment and decrease turnover. Meanwhile, offering special incentives can entice available workers to stay on through the whole season.
Monitor your staffing efforts and adjust when necessary
Unexpected changes are inevitable during the holiday season. Monitor your staffing needs and adjust your plan as demand changes.
The benefits of using a staffing agency for holiday retail staffing
Hiring seasonal employees during the holidays can be easier with a staffing agency. Here’s a brief overview of how an agency can help:
Get additional holiday workers as needed
A retail staffing agency offers temporary workers, allowing you to address unexpected spikes in business or cover the entire holiday season.
Find fast retail staffing solutions
They can also respond quickly to fill job vacancies, helping prevent staffing shortages from affecting your service quality.
Get more peace of mind during with seasonal staffing
With a staffing agency handling the hiring process, you can focus on other important tasks and remain confident that you’ll have access to the holiday workers you need when demand increases.
Simplify holiday workforce management
Going this route also frees up time that would normally be spent on administrative tasks like onboarding, background checks, payroll and tax-related matters.
Support compliance with labor laws
Staffing agencies ensure that all workers are properly classified according to federal and local labor guidelines, helping you avoid legal issues. This includes Form I-9 and E-Verify.
How PeopleReady supports your holiday staffing efforts
PeopleReady is your staffing partner for the holiday season. With our local presence in hundreds of markets throughout the U.S., we can provide easy access to retail, warehouse and manufacturing workers who are ready to get started now.
We understand the importance of flexible staffing for your seasonal hiring needs. With the ability to quickly scale your workforce up or down depending on your workload, you will be prepared for anything the holiday season brings your way. We can also simplify your seasonal hiring with our app, JobStack, which lets you manage your workforce 24/7. Holiday jobs we fill include:
- Merchandisers
- Store update assistants
- Cashiers and clerks
- Product assemblers
- Pickers and packers
- Sorters
- Inventory assistants
- And more
Ready to build your holiday retail workforce with PeopleReady?
