Seasonal unemployment is one of the few types of joblessness that economists don’t necessarily view as a crisis. In fact, it is often expected, planned for, and even built into the structure of certain industries.

It is the most predictable and least worrisome form of unemployment—but that doesn’t make it easy for workers living paycheck to paycheck. Understanding the concept helps you read economic data more accurately and plan your own career if you work in a seasonal industry. Do you work in a seasonal industry? Share your experience in the comments below!

Unlike cyclical unemployment (caused by a recession) or structural unemployment (caused by a mismatch of skills), seasonal unemployment is .