It's remarkable how quickly the year is flying by - in just a few days, we'll be at the midpoint of 2024 already. As the weather warms up and the days grow longer, this transitional period brings with it both opportunities and challenges for graduates and employers alike.
Many recent graduates are hopeful that they can find temporary work to tide them over until they can fully launch their careers. This is a common situation, as the skills gap, layoffs, and the rise in freelance talent have created a dynamic job market, especially during the summer months.
On the employer side, companies are scrambling to find seasonal talent to ensure their projects and operations run smoothly. Data from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals that although hundreds of thousands of new jobs are created every month, a large proportion of those vacancies remain unfilled.
The report from the Chamber of Commerce highlights that the industries most at risk of experiencing a talent and skills gap are the leisure, hospitality, and food service sectors. These industries tend to be volatile, often demanding shift work, irregular hours, and in some cases, unfair pay and working conditions. As a result, it is becoming increasingly rare to find hospitality professionals who have remained with the same employer for an extended period, compared to those in the financial services sector.
In this context, part-time summer jobs, while not always the primary career choice, can prove to be invaluable for certain groups of people:
- High school or college students
- Teachers or professors seeking to supplement their income during their time off
- Individuals making a career pivot and wanting to test the waters before committing fully
- Those seeking to acquire and hone new skills while looking for a more permanent role
- People looking to stay afloat financially after being laid off
- Caregivers or those with other circumstances that prevent them from working full-time
Several industries can expect to see an increase in demand for part-time, seasonal workers due to vacationing staff or the nature of the work involved. These include:
- Agriculture
- Hospitality
- Leisure
- Tourism
- Events management
- Childcare
- Retail
- Outdoor recreation
According to a recent WalletHub report, the top 20 U.S. cities that are most likely to have higher chances of available seasonal work this summer are:
1. Columbia, MD
2. Scottsdale, AZ
3. Rapid City, SD
4. Portland, ME
5. Orlando, FL
6. South Burlington, VT
7. St. Petersburg, FL
8. Charleston, SC
9. Fort Lauderdale, FL
10. Pearl City, HI
11. Tampa, FL
12. Charleston, WV
13. Richmond, VA
14. Peoria, AZ
15. St. Louis, MO
16. Virginia Beach, VA
17. Chandler, AZ
18. Salt Lake City, UT
19. Chesapeake, VA
20. Wilmington, DE
Now that you have a better understanding of the industries and locations that typically experience an increase in hiring during the summer months, it's time to explore the available opportunities that match your skills and interests match your skills and interests before they're filled.