Uncertainty over the economy and tariffs forces many retailers to be cautious on holiday hiring

Core Insights - Economic uncertainty and tariffs are leading retailers to reduce or delay hiring seasonal workers for the crucial holiday selling season [1] Group 1: Hiring Trends - American Christmas LLC plans to hire 220 temporary workers, which is a decrease from 300 last year, and is starting recruitment nearly two months later than usual [2] - Job placement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas forecasts that holiday hiring could fall below 500,000 positions, marking the smallest seasonal gain since 2009 [3] - Radial plans to hire 6,500 workers, down from 7,000 last year, while Bath & Body Works intends to hire 32,000 workers, slightly lower than 32,700 a year ago [4] Group 2: Economic Factors - American Christmas LLC's CEO expects a tariff bill of $1.5 million this year, more than double last year's $600,000, influencing hiring decisions [3] - Challenger's senior vice president noted a cooling labor market and an increase in companies using AI to replace some workers, particularly in call centers [6] Group 3: Notable Exceptions - Amazon Inc. plans to hire 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers, maintaining the same hiring level as the previous year [5]