Retailers are pulling back on seasonal hiring due to economic uncertainty and tariffs. American Christmas LLC is hiring 220 workers, later than usual, to offset a $1.5 million tariff bill. Holiday hiring may hit a low since 2009, with Challenger, Gray & Christmas forecasting under 500,000 positions.

Companies like Radial and Bath & Body Works are cutting back on holiday payrolls, while Amazon plans to hire 250,000 workers. Challenger warns of a cooling labor market and pending layoffs. Companies are using AI bots and hiring workers closer to when they need them.

The government shutdown delays economic reports and impacts job market momentum. The White House starts mass firings of federal workers as the shutdown continues. Analysts monitor the shutdown’s impact on spending and predict slower holiday growth compared to last year.

Mastercard SpendingPulse predicts a 3.6% increase in holiday sales, compared to 4.1% last year. Deloitte forecasts retail sales to be up 2.9% to 3.4%, lower than last year’s 4.2%. Adobe expects online sales to grow by 5.3%, down from 8.7% last year.

Companies like Radial and Target are adopting more flexible hiring approaches due to uncertainty. Radial is hiring closer to Thanksgiving and speeding up training. Target offers additional hours to current workers and hires seasonal workers in stores and distribution facilities.

Late hiring due to economic uncertainty and lack of data may pose challenges. Companies are not anticipating difficulty finding talent. Retailers are left in the dark about forecasting sales and workforce needs due to halted economic reports. Radial plans to adjust quickly as changes arise.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Uncertainty over the economy and tariffs forces many retailers to be cautious on holiday hiring