Where seasonal tourism work exists and what it is like

Terms used

• Convenio — The convenio is the collective agreement that sets pay and working conditions for a sector in a province or region.
• Fijo discontinuo — A fijo discontinuo contract is a permanent contract where you work only in set periods, such as a tourist season.
• Paro — The paro is contributory unemployment benefit, paid when you lose work after paying enough Social Security contributions.
• SEPE — SEPE is the state public employment service where you register as unemployed and apply for benefit.
• Subsidio — The subsidio is a lower, means-tested unemployment payment that may follow when the paro runs out.

Key rules

• Season length: Most seasonal jobs last 6 to 8 months, except in Canarias and Benidorm, where work is closer to year-round.
• Housing: Secure somewhere to sleep before you start, because rooms for seasonal workers are very hard to find in Baleares, Canarias and the Costa del Sol.
• Employer room: Deductions from your pay for housing in kind are limited to 30% of your pay.
• Unemployment benefit: Apply to SEPE within 15 working days of the end of your season, or you risk losing benefit.

Where the work is

The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza) have the most tourism work compared with the size of the local economy, and the strongest seasons. The Canary Islands come next, with a flatter, year-round pattern. After them come Andalucía (Costa del Sol, Málaga, Cádiz, Almería), the Valencia region (especially Alicante and Benidorm), Catalonia (Costa Brava, Costa Dorada) and the Murcia coast.

Exact rankings change with the year and with what is measured.

How long the season lasts

Expect a season of 6 to 8 months. It varies by region, hotel type and weather:

• Baleares: roughly April or May to October. Hiring starts from March, and some hotels stay open into November.
• Andalucía's coast: busier from Easter to October, with a smaller winter market.
• Catalan coast: about April to October.
• Alicante and Benidorm: fairly year-round because of older tourists, with a peak from June to September.
• Canarias: year-round, with a winter peak from November to April.

If you want steady work, Canarias and Benidorm are the best bets. If you want the highest pay and can handle a short, intense season, look at Baleares.

What it pays

Pay is set by regional or provincial agreements called convenios, and they are updated every year. Entry-level jobs (waiter, kitchen assistant, chambermaid) sit just above the minimum wage. A full-time basic category is typically €17,000 to €21,000 gross a year. Senior categories earn more.

Baleares has been among the best-paid areas, with basic categories around €1,500 to €1,700 a month. Canarias (Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife have separate agreements), Málaga and Alicante are usually somewhat lower. Ask for your category and the current table before you accept an offer.

Housing is the main problem

The shortage of rooms for seasonal workers is severe. In Mallorca and Ibiza, workers often cannot afford rent or find a room. Some live in vans, tents or overcrowded flats. Tenerife, Lanzarote and the Costa del Sol (Málaga, Marbella) also report rising rents and workers commuting long distances. Holiday rentals have reduced the supply of homes.

Do not arrive without a place to sleep for the first weeks. Ask about housing before you take the job.

Housing from your employer

Employer housing exists but is not the norm. It is most common in resorts in Baleares and Canarias, big hotels and campsites. It is rare in small bars and restaurants. Rooms are shared. They are sometimes free, but more often about €100 to €300 a month is deducted from your pay. By law, deductions in kind can be no more than 30% of your pay. Quality ranges from decent staff apartments to cramped shared rooms, so ask to see it and get the terms in writing.

Income between seasons

Many seasonal workers are on a fijo discontinuo contract. This is a permanent contract with work only in certain periods. In the months without work, you are legally treated as involuntarily unemployed.

• You can claim unemployment benefit (paro) if you have at least 360 days of contributions in the previous 6 years.
• The benefit lasts from 120 days up to 720, depending on your contributions.
• Register with SEPE and apply within 15 working days of the end of your work.
• If the benefit runs out, you may qualify for the subsidio, depending on conditions.
• Unused benefit is kept for later off-seasons and resumes when the next season ends.

The timeline below shows the steps in order. What you receive depends on your contribution history and on SEPE's decision.

Common questions about rooms, entry-level pay and the longest season are answered in the FAQ below.

Timeline and deadlines

• Season of work on a seasonal contract: Typically 6–8 months a year, depending on region and hotel type

• Check you have enough contributions for unemployment benefit (paro): Before the season ends: you need at least 360 days of contributions in the previous 6 years

• Register with SEPE and apply for benefit: Within 15 working days of the layoff

• Claim the subsidy if the benefit runs out: After the benefit ends, if you meet the conditions

• Resume any unused benefit: When the next season ends, if you are a fijo discontinuo worker with entitlement left

Frequently asked questions

Will my employer give me a room?

Possibly, but it is not the norm. Staff housing is more common in big hotels, resorts and camping sites in the Balearics and Canaries, and rare in small bars and restaurants. Often €100–300 a month is deducted from your pay, and deductions in kind are limited to 30% of pay by law.

What do entry-level hospitality jobs pay?

Basic categories like waiter, kitchen assistant or chambermaid sit just above the minimum wage. Full-time pay is typically €17,000–21,000 gross a year. The Balearics tend to pay more than the Canaries, Málaga or Alicante.

Which region has work for the longest part of the year?

The Canaries and Benidorm/Alicante are fairly year-round. The Canaries peak from November to April, and Alicante peaks from June to September. The Balearics and the Catalan coast are more seasonal, roughly April to October.