The Seasonal Squeeze

Seasonality defines Chamonix's economic rhythm. Winter brings the ski crowd from December through April. Summer attracts hikers and climbers from June through September. The shoulder seasons—May and November—once meant closed shops and empty streets. Now, creative businesses stretch seasons through events and offerings, but the fundamental pattern persists.

"You make your year's income in six months," states Jean-Pierre Dumont, who runs a small sports shop. "Winter is crazy—working seven days, twelve hours. Then May comes, tourists vanish, but bills continue. You learn to save or you don't survive."

Seasonal workers face greater precarity. They arrive in December for winter contracts, often living in shared accommodations that would shock the tourists they serve. A typical arrangement might involve four people sharing a two-room apartment, paying €600 per month for a bunk bed. They work split shifts—breakfast service, afternoon break, dinner service—that make second jobs impossible but don't provide full-time wages.

"I love snowboarding, that's why I came," shares Tomás Silva from Portugal. "But after three seasons, I realize I'm subsidizing my passion with my youth. No pension contributions, no job security, no possibility to save. How long can this continue?"

Yet seasonal work also offers freedom that attracts certain personalities. Marcus Andersson from Sweden has worked Chamonix winters and New Zealand winters for a decade, chasing endless snow. "I'm not building a traditional career, but I'm building a life of experiences. When I'm 70, I won't regret missing office meetings."