Seasonal employment
Seasonal employment is work concentrated in particular times of year, often because demand or working conditions change with the season.
Agricultural labor: Work involved in growing, harvesting, processing, and transporting agricultural products. Planting and harvest create recurring peaks in demand for farm workers.
Seasonality: A recurring pattern of change associated with particular seasons or times of year. Seasonal employment is the labor-market expression of recurring changes in demand or working conditions.
Income volatility: Variation in income over time, including unpredictable rises and falls. Seasonal workers can earn heavily during peak months and little during the off-season.
Permanent employment: Employment without a predetermined end date, subject to ordinary termination rules. Unlike seasonal employment, it is not designed to end with a recurring busy period.
Tourism: Travel undertaken for leisure, business, or other purposes, together with the services supporting it. Visitor numbers often concentrate in particular seasons, shaping demand for service workers.
Labor demand: The amount of labor employers are willing and able to hire at different wage levels. Seasonal peaks increase employers’ need for workers, while off-seasons reduce it.
Unemployment: The condition of being without work while available for and seeking employment. A seasonal job ending may leave workers unemployed until the next hiring period.
Casual employment: Work offered without a firm commitment to ongoing hours or regular scheduling. Casual work is defined by uncertain commitments, not necessarily by an annual season.
Christmas market: A seasonal retail market held during the Christmas period, commonly featuring food, crafts, and gifts. Temporary stalls and holiday crowds generate short-term retail and hospitality jobs.
Temporary work: Employment arranged for a limited period rather than an indefinite duration. Seasonal jobs often have end dates tied to a crop, holiday, or operating season.