Source : Perth Now news
A 22-year-old Brisbane sales worker is looking to take on a second job over Christmas to help fund a trip to Canada next year as employers ramp up hiring for the festive rush.
Ashgrove man Will Burton works full-time in sales and is considering giving up his weekends for a casual hospitality job to boost his savings ahead of the overseas trip.
“I’m definitely open to picking up some extra work over Christmas and have been looking at second jobs,” Mr Burton said.
“My current job pays well, but I’d consider taking on a casual role at a cafe or somewhere similar over the Christmas period to earn some extra money.”
A “shook” office worker has revealed the chilling job application her boss received from a prospective employee who promised they “won’t call in sick, take a better offer down the road, ask for a pay rise or quit three weeks after training”.
Mr Burton said rising everyday costs had also made extra income more appealing.
“I’ve noticed the cost of everyday things going up,” he said.
“Whether it’s groceries, clothing or even going out with friends on the weekend, everything seems to cost more than it used to.”
While his full-time salary still covered his day-to-day expenses, Mr Burton said he had become more mindful of unnecessary spending.
The extra income would primarily go towards flights and spending money for Canada.
“I’ve never really felt the need to take on extra work before, but with a big overseas trip coming up, it feels like a good opportunity to earn some extra cash,” he said.
Mr Burton is among Australians considering extra work as employers ramp up recruitment ahead of Black Friday, Christmas and the summer holidays.
Randstad’s 2026 Workmonitor research found 36 per cent of Australian workers had already taken on, or were actively seeking, a second job specifically to cope with the rising cost of living.
Another 32 per cent had increased, or planned to increase, the hours worked in their main job.
Separate SEEK research found 30 per cent of Australians had or intended to take on a second job, while 34 per cent had or intended to start a side hustle.
SEEK chief economist Blair Chapman said festive hiring began earlier than many jobseekers might expect because businesses needed time to prepare workers before demand peaked.
“For employers, preparing for the festive period isn’t just about having extra people on the roster by December,” Mr Chapman said.
“Businesses need time to recruit, onboard and train seasonal staff before demand picks up, which means workforce planning starts months earlier.”
SEEK data shows Christmas and seasonal casual job ads typically begin appearing in July before building through August, September and October.
Retail and consumer products recorded the strongest uplift of the three major seasonal industries, with job ads typically 16.3 per cent above the annual monthly average in September and 16.5 per cent above average in October.
Hospitality and tourism job ads are 10.6 per cent above average in September and 14.7 per cent in October, while manufacturing, transport and logistics rises from 5.5 per cent above average to 11.2 per cent.
Mail sorters recorded the biggest festive uplift, with average monthly job ads between August and October 35 per cent higher than the annual monthly average.
Packers are up 22.6 per cent, bar attendants and baristas 19.6 per cent, general sales assistants 15.5 per cent and forklift drivers 15.2 per cent.
Hays managing director for NSW, ACT and federal government Andrew Hanson said more employed Australians were exploring extra work.
“We’re hearing from workers who are seeking higher-paying roles, additional shifts or short-term work to help offset rising household expenses, particularly in the lead-up to Christmas,” Mr Hanson said.
He said Christmas hiring activity had gathered pace early this year, particularly across retail, hospitality and logistics, as employers moved to secure workers ahead of peak demand.
Randstad Australia industrial and in-house services director Jonathon Alonzo said demand was also building across logistics, warehousing, transport and food manufacturing.
“What we are seeing is a seasonal ramp up to ensure businesses are fully prepared for the surge in consumer demand,” Mr Alonzo said.
Major employers are already recruiting, with Super Retail Group this week launching a campaign for more than 1000 seasonal casuals, primarily across Rebel and BCF.
The company said its first BCF hires were processed within 48 hours of the campaign launching and it was already receiving strong interest from jobseekers.
Mr Chapman said people considering festive work should start searching now.
“Starting the search early gives jobseekers the opportunity to see what’s available and get ahead of the busiest part of the hiring period,” he said.
