UPS Plans 100,000 Seasonal Hires as Holiday Recruitment Falls for Second Year

United Parcel Service plans to hire 100,000 seasonal workers across the United States ahead of the holiday shipping rush, about 9% fewer than in 2025, according to Reuters.

The hiring plan marks the second consecutive year in which UPS has reduced its seasonal recruitment, offering another snapshot of how major employers are approaching labor needs as consumer spending, automation, and cost pressures reshape the delivery industry.

Holiday shipping remains UPS’s busiest period

The period from late November through early January is typically the busiest stretch of the year for parcel-delivery companies. Daily package volumes can rise sharply as retailers and consumers send gifts, online orders, and returns across the country.

UPS said the temporary workers will help sort, move, and deliver packages during the peak season. Seasonal jobs commonly include package handlers, drivers, and driver helpers, depending on local demand.

Hiring is lower than last year

Reuters reported that the 100,000 planned seasonal hires are roughly 9% below the company’s 2025 level.

UPS had already reduced seasonal hiring in 2025. According to the company’s annual report, it hired about 15,000 fewer seasonal workers that year compared with the 125,000 temporary workers it hired in 2024.

The two-year decline does not necessarily mean holiday package demand will fall by the same amount. Companies can handle volume changes through a combination of staffing, automation, scheduling, network changes, and productivity gains.

The company has also been reducing permanent jobs

The seasonal hiring announcement follows broader cost-cutting efforts at UPS.

Reuters reported that the company said in January it planned to cut up to 30,000 operational jobs and close 24 facilities during 2026. UPS has been scaling back shipments for Amazon, its largest customer, while trying to shift more of its business toward higher-margin deliveries.

That strategy has significant implications for employment because large delivery networks are highly labor intensive even as sorting centers become more automated.

Inflation and consumer spending remain part of the backdrop

The reduced seasonal hiring plan comes as households continue to face elevated prices and businesses monitor whether consumers will spend aggressively during the holiday season.

Consumer demand is especially important for shipping companies because a large portion of peak-season volume is tied to retail purchases and e-commerce.

If households become more cautious, retailers may order less inventory or offer fewer promotions. If spending remains strong, carriers may need to handle high volumes with fewer temporary workers than in previous years.

Seasonal hiring is one economic signal, not the whole labor market

Large holiday hiring announcements receive attention because they can provide an early look at corporate expectations for consumer demand. But UPS represents only one part of the economy.

Seasonal hiring can also vary because of company-specific decisions, including automation, facility closures, customer mix, and changes in how packages move through the network.

For that reason, UPS’s lower hiring target should not be treated as a stand-alone forecast for the entire U.S. labor market.

What workers should watch

For job seekers, the hiring plan still represents a large number of temporary opportunities across the country. Availability will depend on local package volume and staffing needs.

Seasonal jobs can also differ substantially in schedule, hours, physical requirements, and duration. Applicants should rely on UPS’s official careers website and local listings for current openings rather than third-party posts that may be outdated or fraudulent.

The bottom line

UPS still expects to hire 100,000 seasonal workers for the 2026 holiday season, but the lower total continues a trend toward reduced temporary recruitment. The change reflects both broader economic uncertainty and a company-specific restructuring aimed at cutting costs and improving the profitability of its delivery network.

Source reviewed: Reuters, October 7, 2026.