Retail and hospitality sectors braced for Christmas staff shortage crisis

The findings show there is a “cocktail of circumstances” putting workers in a good position to seek pay increases next year

Retailers could struggle to cope with pent-up customer demand at Christmas, due to a potential shortage in available staff. File photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Employers are bracing themselves for significant staff shortages and a struggle to hire workers for the busy Christmas trading period, according to a survey.

The study, undertaken by jobs website Indeed, found that company postings for seasonal Christmas jobs are only 2% down from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. However, conversely, the number of people looking for seasonal employment is 24% lower than in 2019.