UK
'Santa' and 'elf' job listings down from 2022 as retailers expect slower Christmas


Daniel O'Boyle
Fri, 1 December 2023 

The number of job listings for the roles of “Santa Claus” and “Elf” is down compared to 2022, in a sign the retail sector is expecting lower footfall this Christmas (Getty Images for Hamleys)

The number of job listings for the roles of “Santa Claus” and “Elf” is down compared to 2022, in a sign the retail sector is expecting lower footfall this Christmas.

According to jobs platform Indeed, listings are down 15% from 2022, as cost of living pressures threaten to spoil the Christmas cheer this year.

But the number of jobs advertised is still above pre-pandemic levels.

Indeed’s senior UK economist Jack Kennedy added that, while overall listings have been down, retailers started their search for Father Christmas earlier this year.

“That’s possibly a reflection of the fact that hiring conditions have been challenging. So perhaps they felt that it would be prudent to get all their ducks in a row early on.”

Kennedy said Santa jobs are typically listed at around £14 an hour, but a handful were paying significantly more.

“The highest I saw was about £27 an hour at a garden centre,” he said.

Average pay is up by 4.2%, but that’s well below the 7.7% average wage growth across the nation. It's also not enough to keep up with increases in the price of a mince pie, carrot and a glass of brandy, which have risen by about 15% since last Christmas, official figures suggest.

Overall, seasonal jobs are down by 19% on last year, while searches for roles over the Christmas period are up.

Kennedy said: “Christmas hiring is peaking as we approach the holidays. Strong seasonal job interest potentially reflects cost-of-living pressures, prompting more people to look to earn extra money over the festive period.

“However, workers may find themselves facing holiday hurdles when it comes to securing a role, with jobseeker interest in seasonal roles exceeding employer demand. With retail sales down at present, employers appear more cautious this holiday season.”