The retail vertical split in the third quarter of 2026 as postings in the retail category rose slightly, while the vertical’s other categories declined. Wage growth in retail categories settled near the labor market average, while seasonal hiring got off to a strong start in September.

Indeed Job Postings

A table titled “Retail job postings slightly outperform the labor market” with three columns: occupational category, percent change in the past year, and percent change from February 1, 2020. All postings are up 3.1% over the past year and 3.7% since February 2020. Retail is up 5.1% over the past year but down 10.4% since February 2020. Food Preparation & Service is down 3.2% and 4.2%, and Hospitality & Tourism is down 4.7% and 15.1%.
  • Overall US job postings on Indeed remain near pre-pandemic levels; however, the year-over-year trend turned positive for the first time in nearly four years, with job postings up 3.1% in the year to October 23. 
  • Retail is the only category showing some signs of life, up 5.1% from one year ago, outpacing growth in overall job postings.
  • Food preparation & service and hospitality & tourism continue to lose job postings, down 3.2% and 4.7%, respectively, in the year to October 23, 2026.

Retail wage growth slows slightly in the third quarter 

Line graph titled “Retail wage growth flattens out” showing year-over-year growth in posted wages, as a 3-month average, from January 2019 to September 2026 for Food Preparation & Service and Retail. Both lines start around 4%, dip toward 0% to 1% in mid-2020, then surge to peaks near 15% (Food Preparation & Service) and 12% (Retail) in early 2022. They then fall steadily and have held between about 2% and 3% since 2024, ending at 2.7% (Food Preparation & Service) and 2.8% (Retail).
  • After trending mostly upward since the start of 2025, retail wage growth has eased over the past few months to 2.8% year-over-year in September. 
  • Food preparation & service wage growth remains steady, clocking in between 2-3% since February 2024. 
  • Wage growth in both categories is just outpacing that of the overall labor market, at 2.5%. 

Seasonal hiring getting in the spirit early 

Line graph titled “Seasonal job postings are off to a strong start in 2026” showing Christmas and seasonal job postings from August through early January, as an index where the August 2019 average equals 100. In 2019, 2024 and 2025, postings rise from roughly 85 to 100 in August to peaks of about 320 to 345 in November, then fall to about 160 to 200 by early January. The 2026 line starts near 97 and climbs to 250 by the end of September, tracking at or slightly above prior years.
  • With the end of the third quarter comes the start of the holiday hiring season, which is shaping up to be a festive time for retail.  
  • Seasonal hiring follows a familiar pattern each year: Postings begin to appear in August, then build from mid-September through mid-November as retailers and shippers staff up for the holidays.
  • Christmas and seasonal job postings through September 30, 2026 are outpacing those of 2019, 2024, and 2025.