Accounting—long branded one of the dullest jobs in America—was widely written off: baby boomers are leaving the profession in droves, millennials chose other careers, and artificial intelligence was expected to eliminate it altogether. Yet the field has secured a place on the holiday hiring list for the second consecutive year, according to new data from job platform Monster.

Monster's Seasonal Hiring Index 2026 names tax associates and tax experts among the 13 job titles with the most seasonal activity on its platform. The category is so in demand that it appears twice on the list. Last year, tax accountants topped Monster's seasonal rankings.

A deepening talent shortage

The renewed demand reflects a chronic shortage of accounting professionals. In 2024, the United States was short 340,000 accountants, and the problem is only getting worse. The average company now has 17 open accounting and finance roles to fill, up from just five a year earlier.

Seasonal accounting work, Monster suggested, can serve as a foot in the door to a six-figure career that extends well 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, noting that many companies use seasonal roles to test the waters for permanent positions.

Tax accountants typically need at least a bachelor's degree. Those who earn a certified public accountant (CPA) qualification can unlock higher wages of around $200,000. The license is also a slow gate: most US states require 150 semester hours of college credit for CPA licensure—roughly 30 more than a typical bachelor's degree—a hurdle that limits how quickly new talent can enter the profession.

The catch: Gen Z may be too late to apply

The opportunity may appeal to many young workers. Millions of Gen Zers are NEETs—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 finish school. For many, even a temporary paycheck over the holidays would be a welcome start.

But those who have only just begun thinking about a festive-period job may already be too late. Monster found that seasonal hiring jumped 44% from August to September last year and peaked in October, before falling about 24% by November. That decline showed up in both years Monster analyzed. Tax and accounting postings were especially concentrated in September and October—well before cold weather sets in and people turn their attention to Christmas plans. The early timing tracks the work itself: US individual tax returns are due in mid-April, with filing season opening in late January, so seasonal tax staff are recruited months ahead of the deadline rather than around the holidays.

Finding the few seasonal openings left may be difficult, as many are hiding in plain sight. Fewer than 3% of seasonal postings in 2025 used words such as "seasonal," "holiday," or "temporary" in their titles. Monster advises job seekers to stop searching for "holiday jobs" and instead search by the actual job title, such as "tax associate."

The platform also recommends that late starters broaden their search to more titles and industries, and use December to get ahead of the next hiring wave, since 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

1. Delivery Driver
2. Retail Sales Associate
3. Intern
4. Cashier
5. Tax Associate
6. Beauty Advisor
7. Tax Expert
8. Package Handler
9. Retail Stocker
10. Retail Associate
11. Sales Intern
12. Stock Associate
13. Store Associate

Setting accounting aside, most of the seasonal jobs trending now are in retail, which is unsurprising given that 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, meaning a seasonal worker is likely involved whether shoppers head to the shops or click "buy now" online.

"Retail remains an important part of the seasonal market," the report noted, 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."

Worth watching in Monster's next index: whether tax roles secure a third consecutive place on the list, and whether the seasonal surge again crests in October rather than in the holiday run-up.