US seasonal hiring is off to a weak start: US-based employers announced plans to hire 90,787 workers in September, the weakest September total since 2011. This marks a -23% decline from the 117,313 recorded in September 2025. Retail led all industries last month, with 65,150 announced hires, followed by Aerospace and Defense at 5,300. However, announced seasonal hiring is muted so far this year, with a combined 62,000 seasonal hires, compared with 100,800 announced by seasonal employers last September. Year-to-date, US hiring plans have totaled 210,612 workers, the 2nd-lowest total for the first 9 months of the year in at least 10 years. Retail leads all sectors with 66,557 announcements so far in 2026, followed by Technology, at 22,361, and Aerospace and Defense, at 21,841. Hiring demand remains muted.