The traditional British summer job has experienced a notable resurgence this year, fueled by exceptionally warm weather and a packed schedule of cultural, musical, and sporting events, including the men’s football World Cup. Data from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) indicates a significant rise in seasonal hiring within the hospitality and tourism sectors compared to the summer of 2025.
This growth marks a shift from last year, when industry experts expressed concern regarding the potential demise of the classic summer job. The REC noted that while 2025 saw a decline in seasonal postings—raising fears that employers would permanently scale back entry-level opportunities for young people—the current market has begun to recover.
Despite this positive trend, the landscape remains challenging for job seekers. Maxine Bligh, the REC’s chief membership and innovation officer, acknowledged that it is not yet entirely straightforward for young people to secure wages, as many entry-level positions have not rebounded as robustly as hoped. However, she emphasized that there are undeniably more openings in construction, tourism, and hospitality than were available last year.
Looking ahead, Bligh suggested that the potential for an extended warm spell, or an “Indian summer,” across much of the UK could prolong the availability of these seasonal roles. This could provide a longer window for workers to benefit from the current surge in demand.
Market statistics show that there were just under 1.67 million active job postings in the UK throughout July. While this figure represents a 7.7% increase compared to the same period last year, it also reflects a 2.6% decline when measured against the previous month of June. The report also notes that said the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which runs a monthly labour, recent months have seen a significant increase in seasonal hiring in sectors such as hospitality and tourism compared with summer 2025.
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