Thinking about employing some extra staff this Christmas?

Or are you considering earning extra Christmas cash? If so, you need to start taking action NOW.

It seems that demand for good Christmas temporary staff is already rising fast with employers recruiting earlier than usual. Data recently released by Indeed Flex indicted that the number of jobs being listed on its site bearing the word ‘Christmas’ was 244% higher than in September 2021! Since the peak Christmas job postings are not normally reached until November, it clearly indicates that demand is rising fast.

Novo Constare, CEO and Co-founder of Indeed Flex commented “The run-up to Christmas always sees an explosion in temporary job numbers, but this year’s seasonal surge in hiring has started earlier and faster than usual. Millions of Britons are already looking for, or intend to look for, a temporary job to top up income.”

According to the Indeed Flex survey, over 26% of adults questioned were actively looking for a Christmas job – or planned to do so in the near future. Another third of those questioned (36%) were thinking about seeking temporary Christmas work. Nearly a third of those seeking temporary work questioned during the survey were planning to work throughout the festive season for the first time – and many already had an existing job so were seeking to increase their hours.

Such results are reinforced by data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which indicates that over the past months there has been a massive increase in the number of over-50’s seeking work. Over 66,000 men aged 65 and over have returned to the workforce, while more than 37,000 women aged 65 and over are now seeking employment.

Reasons for this interest are not hard to find. Rising prices, inflation, the cost of living and fuel bills alongside a desire to have something to make Christmas special has forced people of all ages to seek temporary Christmas work. Stuart Lewis, chief executive of Rest Less, a digital community for over-50’s points out that “increasing numbers of retirees are feeling poorer than they’ve felt before, with consumer confidence at a record low and purchasing power eroded on a monthly basis.”

People are looking at all types of Christmas work!

Nothing is being ruled out from hospitality to warehouse staff, retail to promotions work – along with would be Santa’s and Elves. The jobs are there for those who want them. Christmas temporary work is also proving popular because it gives work when people need it most, and for some employees is providing a way of expanding their horizons and future employment opportunities.

For Employers the message is clear – staff are available but booking them up early is essential. The good staff, people who are experienced and good communicators perfect for customer facing jobs, are likely to be booked up quickly for Christmas work. These are people who have a long work experience, and a reputation for reliability. It also applies to younger potential employees who are seeking work to supplement existing income streams, or finance their education making them well motivated and prepared to work hard.

Taking action now to fulfil Christmas employment requirements is essential since all the indications are that it could well be very hard to recruit if you leave it too close to Christmas.