What’s seasonal joblessness?

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Seasonal unemployment is a type of employment arrangement in which a person is regularly employed for part of the year but spends the remaining months or weeks without work. This situation is most commonly associated with temporary and weather-dependent jobs such as salvage and some construction jobs. Season-specific tourism jobs, as well as more sporadic jobs in seasonal groups such as theater companies, may also fall into this category. This type of work usually revolves around fixed calendars so employees know and understand exactly when they will be out of work. In many cases, seasonal employees may receive government-sponsored unemployment benefits during the off-season.

Program structured and generally predictable

The distinguishing feature of seasonal unemployment is its predictability. In almost all cases, workers accept these types of jobs with the full knowledge that they are only temporary.

Employees are typically laid off on a set date, but the arrangement is designed to be cyclical. Most people who hold these jobs know that the job will be waiting for them at certain points in the future, and reapplication is usually not required. Once the season resumes, the works return.

Weather-related unemployment

Jobs that are dependent on certain weather conditions are some of the most common candidates for temporary unemployment. Snow plow operators, ski slope personnel, lifeguards and beach managers are just a few examples. Certain types of construction and exterior painting work also fall into this category.

Seasonal tourism and travel scenarios

A number of tourism-related jobs are limited to the “busy” season of a given location, which can also subject them to seasonal unemployment. Many of the world’s most desirable travel destinations have much busier times of year than others. Some of these have to do with the season – summer is almost always a busy time – but a lot is also related to the weather. Regions prone to rainy seasons or sweltering heat are often less popular during these times. Most hotels and resorts will keep staff employed during these “low” times, but they are rarely operating at full capacity.

Theater and other limited liability employees

Actors, performers and professional athletes often experience seasonal unemployment for certain parts of the year. Some theaters run shows on an ongoing basis, but most have certain “dark” periods scheduled. The same goes for ballet companies and other performing arts groups.

Those who play professional sports also typically have an off season, which can lead to temporary unemployment. This is rarely a problem for high-profile athletes, whose in-game salaries are usually very generous. For amateurs or those yet to enter the national leagues, however, the necessary rest periods during the off-season can be financially challenging.

School employees

Teachers are one of the major exceptions to the seasonal unemployment rule. Most school teachers only work during the academic year and enjoy virtually free summers. However, teachers are not made redundant before the summer months, nor are they considered ‘unemployed’ during this period. Many school districts display teachers’ pay stubs so that they are actually paid during the summer months, even though they may not be actively involved in the classroom.

Other school employees — school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and librarians, to name a few — usually don’t fall under this umbrella. Many of these types of jobs are subject to seasonal unemployment, although much depends on the district and local regulations.

Possibility of unemployment benefits

Seasonal employees are often eligible for government-sponsored unemployment benefits for the time they are not working. The availability of the benefits depends entirely on the local government. In some places, seasonal employees cannot collect anything; in others, money is available but in smaller quantities than for the long-term unemployed. Most governments try to keep seasonal unemployment and regular unemployment allotments separate for reporting purposes, typically to ensure that unemployment rankings only reflect people out of work.

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