The 2021 holiday hiring season is in full swing, with over 26,000 temporary Christmas jobs currently up for grabs, according to new research from job search engine Adzuna.
This is going top put pressure on small businesses looking to hire for Christmas as many (including the likes of Tesco, DPD and Amazon) are even offering signing on bonuses to attract staff. If you are going to need seasonal workers this Christmas you need to plan early and start your hiring process immediately – where you can, offer incentives such as flexible hours and other benefits of working for a small business to differentiate yourself from those simply throwing cash at the problem.
1.2 million Christmas jobs in November
Adzuna analysed over 1.2 million jobs available in November to reveal the top Christmas jobs hiring now. There are currently 26,307 Christmas jobs on offer across the UK, up from 13,668 this time last year, according to the data, with the biggest seasonal employers hiring for over 130,000 additional staff this winter.
Topping the list of companies still looking for seasonal staff are supermarket Tesco (871 jobs), delivery company Hermes (740 jobs) and supermarket Sainsbury’s (629 jobs). Card Factory (415 jobs) and Royal Mail (200 jobs) are also still advertising for hundreds of open Christmas roles. In total, ten of the largest seasonal employers are hiring 135,500 workers between them this Christmas, with Tesco alone taking on an additional 30,000 workers.
Two sectors dominate seasonal hiring: Retail and Logistics & Warehousing. The majority of roles available are for Customer Service sales roles, Picker/Packers, or Delivery Drivers.
Even temporary staff can benefit from the rising trend for cash bonuses, especially within these talent shortage sectors. Amazon is offering bonuses of up to £2,000 for seasonal warehouse workers, depending on the location. DPD is offering a £1,000 Christmas bonus for Warehouse Night Sorters, and Ocado, AO.com, and Hand Picked Hotels are all offering £500 seasonal bonuses. In total, 1,329 job openings are advertising a Christmas bonus for successful candidates. For jobseekers looking for a temporary role to boost their coffers for Christmas, these financial extras may be very alluring.
Weird and wonderful Christmas jobs
After a limited array of festive job roles last year, 2021 sees the return of kooky Christmas roles. Adzuna currently have 34 openings for Ice Rink Supervisors at locations ranging from Hampton Court Palace to Warwick Bridge, paying up to £15 per hour.
Meanwhile, Adzuna have spotted openings for an Electrical Mate to help put up the Christmas lights around Yorkshire (at £14 – £15 per hour), and over 50 openings for Christmas Tree Sellers throughout the UK (paying £10 – £11 per hour).
For those that love a festive costume, there are over 300 openings for Santas and Christmas Elves including at events such as Winter Wonderland, paying up to £10.65 an hour.
Other weird and wonderful Christmas jobs include openings for Turkey Pluckers, Gift Wrappers, and Christmas Caretakers.
The most lucrative winter position is for Snow Clearance Specialists, tasked with keeping aircraft stands and walkways safe at airports to keep them operating during inclement weather, paying up to £435 per day at locations including Heathrow Airport.
“Christmas 2021 promises to be a season of opportunity for jobseekers, with a huge array of temporary roles still open and enticing financial rewards on offer. It’s a great opportunity for jobseekers to add some extra pounds to their bank balances, as well as to their waistlines. For students, those who have recently come off furlough, or those simply looking for a ‘stop gap job’ before a career change, these openings will help relieve some of the financial pressures that can come with the festive season.”
– Andrew Hunter, co-founder, Adzuna
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesco | Festive Colleague | 871 |
| 2 | Hermes | Delivery Drivers | 740 |
| 3 | Sainsbury’s | Customer Advisers, Stock Assistants | 629 |
| 4 | Card Factory | Seasonal Sales Assistant | 415 |
| 5 | Royal Mail | 7.5T Drivers, Class 1 Drivers, Seasonal Mail Sorters | 200+ |
| 6 | Amazon | Warehouse Operatives, Sortation Operatives | 173 |
| 7 | Boots | Christmas Customer Adviser | 157 |
| 8 | Butlin’s | Christmas Funfair Ride Operators, Seasonal Lifeguards | 115 |
| 9 | New Look | Seasonal Sales Adviser | 66 |
| 10 | Fortnum & Mason | Christmas Warehouse Operatives, Christmas Sales Associates, Christmas Concierge Gifting Executive | 63 |
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|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tesco | 30,000 |
| 2 | Sainsburys | 22,000 |
| 3 | Royal Mail | 20,000 |
| 4 | Amazon | 20,000 |
| 5 | Asda | 15,000 |
| 6 | M&S | 12,000 |
| 7 | John Lewis | 7,000 |
| 8 | Boots | 5,000 |
| 9 | Morrisons | 3,000 |
| 10 | Aldi | 1,500 |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ice Rink Supervisor | £12.40 – £15.00 | |
| 2 | Christmas Elves and Santas | £9.62 – £10.65 | |
| 3 | Christmas Tree Seller | £10.00 – £11.00 | |
| 4 | Seasonal Gift Wrapper | £9.00 – £15.00 | |
| 5 | Christmas Decorator | £10.00 – £13.00 | |
| 6 | Turkey Plucker | £9.50 – £11.00 | |
| 7 | Christmas Light Electrical Mate | £14.00 – £15.00 | |
| 8 | Christmas Caretaker | Up to £17.44 | |
| 9 | Pantomime Crew | £9.00 – £11.00 | |
| 10 | Winter Operative / Snow Clearance Specialist | Up to £30.00 (£435 per shift) | |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DPD | Night Parcel Sorter | £1,000 Christmas bonus |
| 2 | Ocado | Warehouse Operative | £500 bonus |
| 3 | AO.com | Christmas Delivery Driver | £500 bonus |
| 4 | Amazon | Temporary Warehouse Worker | Up to £2,000 |
| 5 | Hand Picked Hotels | Seasonal Housekeeping Assistant, Seasonal Waiter | £500 end of season bonus |
