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Seasonal jobs may come with an end date, but new survey findings show companies increasingly see them as the beginning of something longer.
Nearly 2 in 5 U.S. hiring managers (38%) say their company plans to hire more seasonal employees than it did a year ago, and many already have an eye on who might stay. Eighty-seven percent view seasonal roles as a great way to identify future full-time hires, according to a recent Express Employment Professionals-Harris Poll survey.
Seasonal work is already a significant part of the hiring market, with more than two-thirds of hiring managers (67%) saying their company has hired seasonal employees, including one-third (33%) that do so currently. Plans are also trending upward, with 15% intending to add seasonal workers in fall 2026, compared with 12% in fall 2025.
More Than Extra Help During the Rush
Fall and winter holidays are the most common time for companies to hire seasonal employees, cited by 64% of those that have done so. Summer follows closely at 60%.
The season may bring workers through the door, but companies are also looking beyond the immediate rush:
· 58% need help meeting short-term workload demands.
· 44% hope to find employees they can hire full-time.
· 43% need coverage for employees who are out on leave.
· 42% want to spread workloads more evenly.
· 36% need work completed outside standard hours.
· 28% cite cost savings.
Seasonal hiring plans are particularly strong in the service industry, where 45% of hiring managers say their company expects to hire more seasonal employees than it did a year ago.
Job Seekers See a Paycheck and a Path Forward
Nearly half of job seekers (45%) have worked a seasonal job, and one-third (33%) plan to do so in the future. Their experience follows a familiar calendar, with fall and winter holiday roles most common at 61%,followed by summer jobs at 53%.
Money may be the main draw, but it’s not the only one. Among job seekers who have worked seasonally, 72% cite financial reasons, including:
· 43% who wanted more money for daily expenses.
· 43% who wanted to add to their savings.
· 25% who wanted help buying gifts.
The value can extend beyond the paycheck, with more than half (54%) citing professional development. That includes 29% who wanted experience for future roles and 27% who hoped to gain new skills. Millennials were especially likely to pursue seasonal work to build their skills at 37%.
“Local employers can approach seasonal hiring as both a short-term staffing solution and an opportunity to identify future full-time employees,” said Bob Funk Jr., CEO, president and chairman of Express Employment International. “The seasonal period gives businesses a unique opportunity to evaluate a candidate’s skills and alignment with the workplace culture before considering a permanent hire.”
Discover more research and real-world workforce trends from the America Employed series at ExpressPros.com/Newsroom.
