1.
seasonal labor; seasonal work
Work that is only available during certain times of the year, such as farming during harvest, tourism-related jobs in summer or winter resorts, or winter construction in snow regions. Often contrasted with year-round permanent employment.
季節労働に従事する。
To engage in seasonal labor.
彼は冬の間、スキー場で季節労働をしている。
During winter, he does seasonal work at a ski resort.
農業地域では、収穫時期に多くの季節労働者が集まる。
In farming regions, many seasonal workers gather during harvest time.
北海道では冬に仕事が減るため、出稼ぎや季節労働が盛んだった。
In Hokkaido, because work decreased in winter, migrant work and seasonal labor were common.
Work that follows the rhythm of the seasons, rather than being year-round. Literally 季節 (season) + 労働 (labor).
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 季節労働に従事する: to engage in seasonal labor
- 季節労働者: seasonal worker
- 季節労働の求人: seasonal job openings
- 夏の季節労働: summer seasonal work
RELATED TERMS:
- 出稼ぎ: working away from home (often seasonal migrant labor)
- 臨時雇用: temporary employment
- 日雇い: day labor; being hired by the day
- 常用労働: regular (year-round) employment — the opposite concept
- 農閑期: farming off-season
CULTURAL NOTE:
Historically in Japan, many farmers from snowy regions like 東北 and 北海道 would travel to cities or to warmer regions for 季節労働 during the winter when farm work was impossible. This practice is known as 出稼ぎ. In modern times, seasonal labor is common in tourism (ski resorts in winter, beach resorts in summer) and agriculture.