The 2025 holiday hiring forecast is cloudy, not clear. Some signs point to a more cautious peak season compared to years past, while others suggest strong underlying demand and retail momentum. While peak hiring is likely to come in lower than last year overall, staffing needs remain significant and more strategic. Retail Dive reports that retailers could add just under 500,000 seasonal positions in Q4, signaling a move toward targeted hiring rather than mass expansion.

At the same time, there’s optimism in the air. According to the 2025 UKG Holiday Hiring Survey, 73% of retailers expect higher sales than last holiday season, 69% forecast more in-store shoppers than in 2024, and 67% plan to increase hiring to keep pace with demand, according to BusinessWire.

This mix of cautious projections and encouraging indicators makes one thing clear: peak season staffing in 2025 requires smarter planning, greater flexibility, and stronger execution than ever before. Here’s how to build a strategy that meets the moment and how WorkWhile can help.

1. Peak season hiring in 2025: Focused, not frantic

Hiring for peak season is still happening, but it’s more intentional. Businesses are using smarter tools, better planning, and more agile approaches to optimize how they bring in seasonal help. As noted in Retail Dive, companies are shifting away from mass hiring waves and investing in retention and scheduling strategies instead.

For a deeper look at how this shift is playing out, explore these real-world lessons in peak season staffing, where companies share how they moved from reactive hiring to strategic workforce planning.

This year’s best performers will be the ones that hire wisely and support their seasonal workers effectively.

2. Build a flexible model for peak season labor

One-size-fits-all hiring won’t work this year. Teams are increasingly adopting flexible staffing models that include core staff for consistency, temporary or flex workers for peak volume weeks, and on-call workers to handle short-notice shift gaps.

According to BusinessWire, 77% of employers expect to lean into real-time staffing strategies during the 2025 holiday season.

To see this in action, check out WorkWhile’s peak workforce solutions, which show how flexible labor models help businesses scale efficiently while controlling costs and ensuring coverage.

3. Cross-training and incentives help meet peak demands

Agility is critical during high-volume periods. Cross-training staff allows workers to shift between roles like packing, stocking, and setup, making it easier to respond to demand surges.

As reported in HR Dive, many employers are offering premium pay or early wage access for less desirable shifts. These kinds of incentives can be the difference between full coverage and last-minute scrambles.

When you combine cross-training with smart compensation strategies, you empower your team and ease the pressure on hiring.

4. Fast, effective onboarding supports peak workers

Seasonal workers can be high performers when they’re properly onboarded. And with a late Thanksgiving compressing the hiring timeline, onboarding quickly is more important than ever.

Best practices include mobile-accessible training, task-based learning modules, and clear role expectations. Bringing peak labor in early and setting expectations from day one ensures smoother operations once the rush hits.

5. Smarter scheduling beats burnout

Instead of relying on overtime, many companies are implementing smarter scheduling tactics. These include staggered start times, short shifts for peak hours, self-scheduling tools for workers, and on-call coverage for unexpected absences.

According to Retail TouchPoints, 74% of hourly workers say flexible scheduling is one of the top reasons they choose and stay with a job. Smarter scheduling reduces burnout, improves engagement, and helps teams perform better.

Where WorkWhile fits in

To make all of this work, you need the right staffing platform. WorkWhile supports companies by posting open shifts to a pool of qualified workers, building repeat talent pools for future peak seasons, enabling mobile self-scheduling and shift swaps, and tracking performance in real time.

Whether you’re managing retail, logistics, or event staffing, WorkWhile helps you stay agile, reduce no-shows, and fill shifts fast.

Final word: Plan smart to succeed this season

The 2025 holiday season brings real opportunity. Peak hiring remains strong, but success requires smart execution. With the right approach to staffing, onboarding, and scheduling, and with support from partners like WorkWhile, your team can stay ahead of demand, support your workforce, and deliver a seamless customer experience through the end of the year.

You don’t need to panic hire. You need to hire right.

Need help building your peak season staffing plan? See how WorkWhile helps businesses staff smarter.

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