Why December Is One of the Best Months to Hire and What Employers Should Do Before 2026 Begins
As December arrives, many employers across Australia and New Zealand hit pause on hiring. Budgets are closing, teams are rotating through leave, and the instinct is to “pick things up fresh in January.” But in a tight and competitive labour market, that pause can become a missed opportunity.
According to the September 2025 Recruitment Experiences and Outlook Survey (REOS) by Jobs & Skills Australia, 51% of employers are hiring, 45% can’t fill their roles, and 44% have vacancies open for more than a month. For employers who keep moving during December, this isn’t a barrier, it’s an advantage.
Here’s why December is one of the strongest months to hire and what employers should do before 2026 begins.
- December Talent Is Quietly Active and More Responsive
December is a month of reflection for employees. Many begin reassessing job satisfaction, updating CVs and browsing new roles. While they may not be applying loudly, they are paying attention.
Because fewer companies hire in December, your opportunities stand out! With less noise in the market, your job ads get more visibility, passive candidates reply faster, and your interview-to-offer ratio improves.
Why it works:
- Lower employer competition
- Higher candidate availability (annual leave = thinking time)
- Stronger engagement with well-timed outreach
- January Is the Biggest Hiring Surge:Beat It Now
January is historically one of the fastest-moving hiring months of the year. Budgets reset, new roles are approved, and business plans kick into gear.
But here’s the catch:
While January is busy, it’s also slow.
Managers return at different times. Decision-makers are out. Shortlists take longer to review.
Hiring in December means you start shortlisting now and onboard in January without the delays.
Operational benefits:
- Faster sourcing & screening before the flood
- New hires can attend January induction
- Your team starts Q1 fully staffed
- No “January backlog” of urgent vacancies
- December Hiring Reduces Vacancy Costs
A vacant role costs businesses far more than most leaders realise: in lost revenue, delayed projects, lower team morale and burnout risk.
With 44% of Australian employers reporting vacancies open for 30+ days, every week counts.
Hiring in December helps you avoid:
- A prolonged vacancy that drags into February
- Workload pressure on existing staff
- Project delays in Q1
- Recruitment bottlenecks when everyone else starts hiring
The earlier you move, the more cost you avoid.
- High Demand + High Difficulty = December Advantage
With 45% of Australian employers unable to fill roles, and skill shortages persisting across healthcare, construction, hospitality and professional services, the market is competitive.
But when competitors slowdown in December, your ability to hire speeds up.
This is the window where proactive employers win.
Candidates who were hard to reach in peak months become easier to engage. Interviews are faster. Decisions are cleaner. And your offers face fewer competing counteroffers.
- What Employers Should Do Before 2026 Begins
To make December a strategic hiring month, focus on three priorities:
- Align your internal decision-makers early
Get signoffs, budgets and role scopes confirmed before the break.
- Build a December shortlist
Engage talent now so you begin January ready to onboard, not start from scratch.
- Communicate timelines clearly
Tell candidates your expected interview windows, leave periods and start dates so expectations stay aligned.
If internal capacity is limited, partner with recruiters who can maintain speed when your team is stretched.
Final Word: Don’t Power Down – Power Ahead
December is not a hiring dead zone. It’s one of the most strategic months of the year. Employers who remain active now start 2026 stronger, better staffed and ahead of the market curve.
The question isn’t “Should we wait until next year?”
The smarter question is:
“Why wait when the opportunity is right now?”