Seasonal Workers in Swedish and Norwegian Ski Resorts – Potential In-migrants?

Abstract

Seasonal workers in the tourism industry may be potential in-migrants and thus help compensate for depopulation in rural tourist areas. This paper examines such an assumption, partly by characterising typical seasonal workers in several ski resorts in Norway and Sweden and partly by identifying their motivations when applying for seasonal jobs in a ski resort. The paper further discusses what may be expected of potential future permanent residents from seasonal workers. Data were collected by an email survey to seasonal workers in four major ski resorts in Norway and two in Sweden, and supplemented by group interviews in one major ski resort in the Norwegian set (Trysil) and one in the Swedish set (Sälen). The main findings are a classification in four motivation groups for taking on a seasonal job. Workers' job motivations may indicate their “residence potential”. The identified motivation groups are not mutually exclusive, but rather focus on different aspects, motives and driving forces triggering such a job decision. The main conclusions are that seasonal workers may represent a contribution, but that this should be regarded as an unexpected bonus.