Seasonal Jobs Account for a Quarter of Winter Employment in Southern Alps, Highlighting Challenges and Sectoral Impact

Seasonal employment constitutes a significant pillar of the Southern Alps economy, particularly during the winter months. On June 8, statistics presented at the Maison de la Région in Gap revealed that seasonal workers represent about 25% of jobs in winter within the seven mountain basins across Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, and Alpes-Maritimes. This amounts to over 9,500 seasonal positions amid a daily employment range of 24,300 to 34,500 across these territories.

The winter season, from December 1 to April 30, witnesses notably high seasonality in sectors such as restaurants and ski lifts, where two-thirds of jobs are seasonal. Conversely, retail sees only about a quarter of jobs filled by seasonal workers. In summer, nearly half of the approximately 4,000 seasonal jobs are found in the restaurant sector. Seasonal workers are predominately young with roughly equal gender representation. Employment duration varies, with half of winter jobs lasting less than 80 days and a quarter spanning the full season.

Despite seasonality, the overall contribution of seasonal work equates to only 2% of total working days, underscoring its limited impact on the broader economy. Challenges persist for seasonal workers, especially concerning access to housing and achieving sufficient income, which threatens the attractiveness of these jobs.

Officials emphasized that ski tourism remains viable despite climate change concerns, though some winters may face difficulties. The findings aim to support informed public policies, particularly related to housing in mountain areas to sustain this vital economic segment.