Economic woes and troubles in the labor market are showing up in the most unexpected places. “The number of people reaching out to us [to hire Santas] is down compared with last year — and last year was down compared with the year before. That’s really due to the economy,” Mitch Allen, who runs Hire Santa, a staffing agency, tells Axios.
While people continue to celebrate Christmas, the scale of these celebrations has decreased at homes and workplaces. Allen told NPR that inquiries for-for-hire Santas to appear at malls, schools, offices, or private events have dropped by 30% compared with 2024.
However, when it comes to mall Santas, the reduction in demand can be seen as structural and long in the making, given that there are fewer malls today and more people are shopping online for the holidays.
According to Axios, the rebound in the number of prospective Santas available for work may also explain why there seem to be fewer unfilled opportunities. Allen said his agency has ramped up recruitment efforts in recent years. “We’ve worked hard over the last five years to increase the number of Santas that we have in our database.”
READ: Holiday spending rises 4.2%, led by e-commerce and electronics: Visa (December 24, 2025)
Labor shortages for Santas — along with other American workers — accelerated in 2021 and 2022, creating plentiful opportunities. “COVID-19 was not favorable to a number of Santas and Mrs. Clauses,” says Wade Wells, a Texas-based professional Santa. “There just weren’t a lot of new Santas coming into the field.”
The Axios report also highlights that an aging population looms over the broader U.S. workforce, with the share of prime-age workers projected to fall drastically in the years ahead. The demographic shift could benefit the Santa profession if retirees choose to take on seasonal work.
READ: Why artificial Christmas tree prices are rising in 2025 (November 17, 2025)
Axios also notes that unlike other workers, Santas do not need to worry about artificial intelligence taking over their jobs. “I feel comfortable that there will always be people who want a more real-time connection,” says Ed Taylor, the founder of the Worldwide Santa Claus Network, a Santa Claus training and hiring site.
The economic situation has affected the holiday in other ways as well. The price of artificial Christmas trees — expected to dominate U.S. holiday spending in 2025 — has increased, according to retailers, who cite rising tariffs, higher shipping costs, and lingering supply-chain constraints as reasons. However, holiday spending remains strong, with a 4.2% rise reported by Visa.