Figures from the Office of National Statistics have revealed seasonal workers earn on average £1,832 from their temporary summer jobs.
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Despite this, a survey by Gumtree has found two thirds of people polled say they’ve already decided not to work this year. And it’s not only the chance to earn hard cash that’s being missed; so, too, is the opportunity to live and work in stunning locations, with summer jobs available in some of Scotland’s most beautiful destinations.
The role of visitor assistant was recently advertised for the Isle of Staffa, which is home to the world-famous Fingal’s Cave and hundreds of breeding seabirds.
The lucky candidate is set to sail out to the island every morning from Mull or Iona and welcome visitors throughout the day, helping them appreciate the amazing wildlife and environmental work being done by The National Trust for Scotland.
When it came to choosing locations for seasonal work, the island life was also a major attraction for Lucy Peckett… although she confesses to finding her current home on the Isle of Iona by sheer accident.
“I’d never even considered Scotland as somewhere to work in the summer,” says the 25-year-old. “I only ended up here because I’d put my passport through the washing machine . . . I wanted to go somewhere abroad but couldn’t leave the UK!”
Lucy works as a waitress and general assistant in Martyr’s Bay Pub and Café.
“I’ve been working in hospitality for about eight years,” she says. “In the winter I work in ski resorts and in the summer I’ve worked both in the Alps and for the past three years on islands off the West Coast of Scotland.
“Any spare time I have – which is usually May, October and part of November – I spend travelling. I took a break from the winter seasons in 2013-2016 to get my degree in mathematics and economics but still worked seasonally in the summer in between.”
Lucy chose her current role in hospitality because of how flexible it is and because it offers the opportunity to meet people from so many walks of life.
She says: “I worked here last summer, and they were happy to have me back (I think!). Iona also has visitors from all over the world, so I get to meet lots of different people.”
She adds: “It’s also an easy way to save money as I work plenty of hours and there are very few places to spend my earnings.”
Perfectly illustrating the fact that seasonal work can be diverse and take you to places all over the world, Lucy has just accepted a job as a ski technician in Niseko in Japan for the 2019-2020 winter season.
There are many other advantages to summer work too.
“I get to live where people normally pay to go on holiday,” Lucy points out. “And here in Iona the lighter nights and longer days mean I can still do things before and after work.
“Because I get bored easily and generally want to move on after four to five months, this kind of work fits perfectly with the summer seasons in most places.”
There are some minor downsides, of course: “Constantly being ‘new’ to a job can be challenging…although it’s taught me to be a fast learner and pick up new things quickly.”
Picking up new things is certainly a benefit of a seasonal role – summer work can offer skills that can be used all year round, while the work experience will be invaluable when looking for a full-time position in the future.
This is the reason many seasonal work vacancies are a perfect match for school leavers, students, recent retirees or parents who want to find a position that fits around their childcare commitments.
In fact, there are around 217,000 people are employed in the tourism sector in Scotland with 83% working in hospitality, according to VisitScotland. It estimates the hospitality sector has been responsible for the creation of 21,000 new jobs and most of these will be busiest in the months ahead.
As more tourists flock to Scotland from all over the world this summer, hotels, restaurants and bars need chefs, cooks, caterers, receptionists, waiting staff, housekeepers and retail assistants to ensure visitors receive the warmest of welcomes.
Many of the UK’s biggest charities will also be looking to recruit to take advantage of these boosted visitor numbers.
There are also summer jobs such as telesales agents or call and contact centre agents fast becoming available. In this vibrant sector, the hours are not constricted, while night shifts normally pay more and can free up afternoons for sunny, summer fun.
So why not explore the seasonal job opportunities on s1jobs and make this a summer to remember? You might even find your own island paradise.