Seasonal Unemployment

Seasonal unemployment is often termed as a seasonal employee layoff. A common effect of seasonal unemployment is that a large group, in spite of a good amount of skill models, routinely face unemployment at fixed time of the 12 months. A further glance through this article will enlighten you about what seasonal unemployment truly is and how to prevent getting affected by it.

What causes Seasonal Unemployment?

Seasonal unemployment is often seen to happen in areas where there's a rapid change in seasons and climatic conditions. Similarly, a pattern of seasonal unemployment is visible amongst communities with limited occupational skills. Seasonal unemployment is also seen amongst migrant communities who take up certain short time work as a way of temporary source of income.

Occupations with Seasonal Joblessness

• Agriculture is one of the most common occupation that has seasonal unemployment as a prominent feature. It is an extremely common problem in countries that are primarily agrarian financial systems. Here we see a sudden surge in employment opportunities in agricultural areas throughout the peak sowing and harvest seasons. After the harvest period has ended, the employment suddenly goes slack. However, the same employees may be hired as farm laborers within the next agricultural season.
• In fruit picking industries, there is really a demand for skilled fruit pickers and expert in fruit processing technology throughout the peak season. This demand fades after all the fruit processing activities are completed for that year. e. g. This phenomenon is commonly seen within western India where Alphonso mangoes are grown. The fruit picking season generally lasts from March to May every year. By end of May, all activities such as fresh fruit picking, fruit processing and canning are completed. The employees from the mango orchards now face seasonal unemployment.
• Different nations have their own tourist peak seasons with respect to the country's location and best time for visiting the nation. At the height of the season, there is a higher demand and cut neck competition between transport industries, food industries, manufacturing industries, entertainment industries and so on. But when the season ends, there is a sharp rise in periodic employee layoff.
• There is a surge in demand for woolen products during winters and rainy wear throughout the monsoons. But have you ever wondered what happens to people engaged in manufacturing these items during off seasons? You guessed it right. They encounter seasonal unemployment.

Government's Take on Seasonal Unemployment

• It may shock you, but government never takes seasonal unemployment into account while calculating the unemployment indexes for a financial 12 months. This is because a significant amount of unemployment might have some negative effects on calculations made to assess the nation's growth. This may further affect the nation's status and economic status.
• As means to take treatment of seasonal unemployment, the government distributes some allowances and unemployment benefits towards the people.

Avoiding Effects of Seasonal Unemployment

It is not always possible to attend from getting affected by seasonal unemployment. Some common methods to avoid this problem are:

• Get additional skill sets to qualify you for any better and permanent job that may or might not be related to the seasonal job.
• Alternately, you may choose getting new skill sets and qualifications that help you occupy a job in the off season. The plus side of this solution is you have two sources of income during the whole year.
• You might develop strong skills in the work that you perform throughout the peak season. My point is that, your expertise within the occupation will make you an indispensable team member throughout peak season activities. As such, you can negotiate together with your employer to give an off season employment allowance and still stay employed all through the year.
• If one happens to own a small and private business which is actually seasonal in nature, you may opt to diversify your company into manufacturing other products or providing some other types of services during the off season period.

So if a number of you are seasonally unemployed, then relax! The problem may sound very grave but there are several sure shot solutions to overcome it. Have faith in your capabilities and you'll very soon be a diversely skilled person.