Why December & January Are the Secret Weapons for Smart Hiring

As the festive season approaches, many organisations hit pause, assuming hiring slows down until February. According to online employment marketplace SEEK, seasonal analysis shows this assumption could cost you the competitive edge.

Here are 5 reasons why hiring in December and January beats any other time of year:

✅ Candidate Activity Peaks – Applications per job ad jump 9% in December and 12% in January above the annual average.

✅ Less Competition – Job ads drop 34% below average in December, giving you clearer access to talent.

✅ Quality Over Quantity – People applying for jobs in December and January can often be available on a shorter notice period and are more motivated to commence a new job by the end of January. 

✅ Historic Highs – Applications per ad are 2–3x higher than 2016–2018 averages across AU & NZ.

✅ First-Mover Advantage – Be top-of-mind when candidates start their New Year job search.

Don’t wait for February. Start hiring now and secure the best talent before your competitors even wake up.

👉 Ready to take advantage of the December–January hiring window? Reach out to our team of specialist consultants to discuss your strategy today!