With cost-of-living pressures biting, millions of Australians are looking for extra work and Christmas is bringing a wave of seasonal job opportunities.
Australians hoping to pocket extra cash are being urged to start looking now, with employers already recruiting thousands of seasonal workers for the summer rush.
Job-plattform SEEK is currently showing 2445 Christmas casual jobs across Australia. And it is not just retailers looking for extra hands. Warehouses, delivery centres, airports, hospitality businesses, tourism operators and even Christmas tree stylists are among those recruiting.
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Some seasonal jobs are paying up to $49 an hour.
University of Southern Queensland career development expert Dr Jennifer Luke said now is the time for large employers to begin hiring for the Christmas and peak summer season as they need time to recruit and train large numbers of seasonal workers before the rush hits.
“September is definitely the month when a lot of employers, particularly the very large employers, including warehouses and delivery centres but also your large retail and also tourism, they’re all starting to recruit for the summer season,” Luke told 7NEWS.com.au.
Dr Jennifer Luke says Australians should look beyond traditional Christmas jobs and match the skills and experience they already have with seasonal opportunities. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images Decorating Christmas trees is another festive seasonal job for Australians looking to pick up extra work and boost their income before Christmas. Credit: 7NEWS The hiring window can stretch well beyond Christmas, with seasonal work often covering November, December and January and the wider school holiday period.
More than one million Australians working two jobs The rush for extra Christmas work comes as the number of Australians holding multiple jobs has reached a record high.
More than one million people were working two jobs in June, with 1,049,100 multiple job holders recorded.
That represented 6.9 per cent of everyone employed, with both figures the highest recorded in a series dating back to 1994.
The rise has been particularly pronounced among younger and middle-aged workers.
The rate of multiple job holding reached a record 11.2 per cent among 20 to 24-year-olds, 9 per cent among 25 to 34-year-olds and 6.3 per cent among 35 to 44-year-olds.
Australians aged 20 to 44 accounted for 88 per cent of the increase in multiple job holding over the year.
For people already working full-time, Luke said seasonal work could offer more than just a short-term boost to their bank balance, but to explore a different industry without having to commit to a permanent career change.
“It’s a really good opportunity for people to actually try something different, to learn new skills, to meet new people and to actually perhaps find something that they really enjoy doing,” she said.
Where the jobs are Retail remains one of the biggest sources of seasonal work, with Myer, David Jones, JB Hi-Fi, Jay Jays, kikki.K, Seed, Bed Bath N’ Table and other retailers currently advertising Christmas casual positions.
But there are plenty of alternatives for people who would rather avoid the shop floor.
Amazon Australia announced in August that it was recruiting 3000 seasonal workers across its fulfilment centres and delivery stations.
Australia Post is also hiring 3500 Christmas casuals, with seasonal jobs including parcel and mail sorting, processing, customer service and delivery support as the postal giant prepares for its busiest time of year.
Warehouse and fulfilment roles are also appearing on job boards, including pick-and-pack positions, e-commerce warehouse assistants and seasonal warehouse jobs.
Christmas demand also creates behind-the-scenes jobs, with warehouse workers helping move and prepare the huge volume of goods heading to stores and customers. Credit: janiecbros/Getty Images One current Sydney listing for a Fiskars pick-packer pays $33.09 an hour, with weekday shifts and no qualifications or licences required.
There are also seasonal jobs in hospitality, customer service, merchandising, airport operations and tourism.
And for those looking for something a little more unusual, one Sydney Christmas job currently advertised pays $36 to $37 an hour to play Santa at shopping centre photography sets.
You don’t need years of experience For people worried they don’t have enough experience, particularly teenagers looking for their first job, Luke said employers were often looking for something more basic.
“They’re really looking for anyone, no matter what age, that has the availability, are dependable, are reliable and have a good attitude,” she said.
Many seasonal employers would train people on the job.
That means Christmas work can be an opportunity for school leavers, university students, parents returning to work, older Australians and people already in full-time employment who want a second income.
Luke said applicants should also think more broadly about what counts as experience, including volunteering and other activities outside paid employment.
“Don’t call it work experience, just call it experience because anything you’ve done as a volunteer is just as valuable,” she said.
Seasonal work ramps up before Christmas. Credit: Nikola Stojadinovic/Getty Images That could include volunteering at a school, sporting club or community organisation, helping out at events, coaching junior sport, fundraising or taking on responsibilities in other community groups.
For younger workers, Luke said those experiences can demonstrate the same qualities employers are looking for, including reliability, communication, teamwork and a willingness to get involved and learn.
How to stand out With seasonal jobs attracting large numbers of applicants, sending the same generic resume to every employer could be a mistake.
Luke said jobseekers should carefully read through the job ad and selection criteria before starting their application.
“If there’s a job that you want to go for, make sure that you’ve read the job ad or the selection criteria,” she said.
Applicants should identify the skills being sought, such as customer service, reliability, teamwork, critical thinking or willingness to learn, and then give a specific example of when they have demonstrated them.
Playing Santa is one of the more unconventional seasonal jobs that can give workers a festive way to earn extra money in the lead-up to Christmas. Credit: Oliver Strewe/Getty Images Her tip: Go through each selection criterion and make a note of an example from your own experience that shows you meet it, whether that experience comes from paid work, volunteering, school, sport or community activities.
“Don’t put fluff in it,” Luke said.
“All you need to do is just provide a response to everything that the employer is actually asking for.”
She also recommends showing employers you can commit to the busy Christmas period.
Being available, reliable and willing to learn can matter as much as having previous experience, particularly for seasonal roles where employers are prepared to train new staff.
Christmas jobs hiring now Here are some of the seasonal and Christmas roles currently advertised:
The advertised rates vary significantly depending on the job, award, age, hours and penalty rates.
From July 1, 2026, the national minimum wage is $26.44 an hour, while the minimum casual rate for award-free adult workers is $33.05 including the 25 per cent casual loading.
Award-covered workers can be entitled to higher rates and penalty rates.
For example, the General Retail Industry Award currently puts the minimum ordinary casual rate for an adult Level 1 retail worker at $34.76 an hour, rising to $48.67 on Sundays and $69.53 on public holidays.
Jobseekers should therefore check whether an advertised rate includes casual loading, superannuation and applicable penalty rates before comparing offers.
Landing a seasonal job does not necessarily mean the work will end when the decorations come down.
“How you perform during that busy time, employers are always on the lookout to see who are the workers that they really want to keep in touch with because that could turn into more work after the Christmas season,” Luke said.
Gift wrapping and retail are among the seasonal jobs offering Australians a chance to earn extra money in the lead-up to Christmas. Credit: Zoran Jesic/Getty Images But don’t just search online The big job sites are an obvious place to start, but Luke said jobseekers should also look closer to home.
“Have a look around your local suburb or your local town at all the cafes and retail stores that have signs in their window,” she said.
“Because they’ve put those signs up for a reason. They need staff and they’re looking for people who have got that good attitude and they’re open to learning.”
But if you’re using online job sites, Luke recommends to use them as a kind of reverse search, matching the skills and experience you already have with available roles.
“Use the online job sites and do a search for the different types of skills that you have or experience,” she said.
“And don’t wait until December.”