It’s been called one of the dullest jobs in America. Boomers are leaving it in droves, millennials decided they’d rather do almost anything else, and AI was supposed to kill it off. Yet accounting has made it onto the holiday hiring list again for a second year in a row.
According to Monster’s Seasonal Hiring Index 2026, tax associates and tax experts were among the 13 job titles with the most seasonal activity across its platform—and it’s so hot, it appears twice on their list.
Last year, tax accountants topped Monster’s seasonal rankings.
The industry faces a huge talent shortage. In 2024, the U.S. was short of 340,000 accountants—and the problem is only getting worse. The average company now has 17 open accounting and finance roles they’re trying to fill, up from just five last year.
And so seasonal accounting cover could be a foot in the door to a six-figure career beyond the holidays.
“Seasonal work is more than a short-term paycheck; it’s often the start of a longer career journey,” last year’s report said, while adding that many companies use seasonal roles to test the waters for permanent ones.
To get in, tax accountants typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. Those with a CPA (certified public accountant) qualification can unlock higher wages of around $200,000.
The only catch? Gen Z NEETs may be too late to apply
Plenty of young people could use the work. Millions of Gen Zers are NEETs, meaning not in employment, education, or training. And with entry-level roles disappearing thanks to AI, young job hunters are three times less likely than previous generations to have a job lined up when they leave school. For many, even a temporary paycheck over the holidays would be a welcome start.
But Gen Zers who have just started thinking about nabbing a job over the festive period may already be too late.
In fact, Monster found that seasonal hiring jumped 44% from August to September last year and peaked in October. Then it fell by about 24% by November—and that drop showed up in both years Monster analyzed.
Tax and accounting postings were especially concentrated in September and October, well before the weather turns frosty and people are thinking about their Christmas plans.
And to make matters even harder, finding the few seasonal jobs left right now could be like finding a needle in a haystack. Many of them are hiding in plain sight.
Less than 3% of seasonal postings in 2025 used words like “seasonal,” “holiday,” or “temporary” in their title. So stop searching for “holiday jobs” and instead search by the actual job title, such as “tax associate.”
Monster also advises late starters to broaden their search to more titles and industries, and to use December to get ahead of the next hiring wave, because tax season, summer camps, and hospitality jobs often recruit months in advance.
The top 13 seasonal job titles hiring now, according to Monster’s job postings
- Delivery Driver
- Retail Sales Associate
- Intern
- Cashier
- Tax Associate
- Beauty Advisor
- Tax Expert
- Package Handler
- Retail Stocker
- Retail Associate
- Sales Intern
- Stock Associate
- Store Associate
Accounting aside, most seasonal jobs trending right now are retail, which probably isn’t surprising since stores need all hands on deck to get through the Christmas shopping rush.
Nine of the 13 jobs on Monster’s list are in retail or involve handling and delivering packages, so whether shoppers head to the shops or click “buy now,” a seasonal worker is probably behind it.
“Retail remains an important part of the seasonal market,” the report noted, before adding that the data shows seasonal opportunities across delivery, warehouse and logistics, tax and accounting, and hospitality.
“If working a cash register doesn’t appeal to you, consider fulfillment or warehouse work,” the report added. “The wider you cast your search, the more likely you are to find a seasonal position that fits your skills and schedule.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com