Summer Hiring Trends in Europe

Hiring in France

France has a distinctive summer labour landscape influenced by strict labour protections, statutory holidays (like August’s “la grande pause”), and sector-specific collective agreements.

Seasonal Workforce Demand Surges

Tourism-heavy regions such as the Côte d’Azur experience high seasonal hiring needs in hospitality and retail. French labour law imposes strong protections around working hours, paid holidays, and mandatory employee representation, which can complicate temporary hiring.

How BIPO Adds Value:
BIPO’s Employer of Record (EOR) service helps you navigate complex labour laws and collective agreements, ensuring compliant seasonal hiring without the need to establish a French entity. We handle contracts, social security, and works council obligations efficiently.

Internship and Graduate Recruitment

Internships (“stages”) in France are highly regulated, requiring formal agreements and stipends at or above legal minimums. The summer is also a popular time for “apprenticeships,” which combine work and training, often under dual contracts.

How BIPO Adds Value:
We help companies structure compliant internship and apprenticeship programs, manage stipends, and support reporting requirements—all via our integrated HRMS platform for smooth administration.

Unique Opportunity: Navigating the “August Shutdown”

Many French companies close or reduce operations during August. Planning hiring and projects around this shutdown is crucial for effective summer workforce management.

How BIPO Adds Value:
BIPO’s local experts advise on managing workforce availability and scaling during these seasonal pauses, helping you avoid operational gaps.

Hiring in Germany

Germany’s labour market is characterised by strong worker protections, co-determination rights, and a well-established apprenticeship system that influences summer hiring dynamics.

Seasonal Workforce Demand Surges

Tourism-heavy states like Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern drive demand for seasonal workers, often hired via staffing agencies due to strict temporary employment laws. Works councils have a significant say in workforce changes.

How BIPO Adds Value:
BIPO’s EOR solution excludes the need to negotiate with a works council and ensures all temporary contracts and payroll processes adhere to German social law and data protection requirements.

Internship and Apprenticeship Programs

Germany’s dual vocational training system is unique, combining apprenticeships with formal education. Summer internships often tie into these programs and have strict contractual frameworks.

How BIPO Adds Value:
We assist companies in structuring compliant apprenticeships and internships while handling payroll, insurance, and legal reporting seamlessly.

Unique Opportunity: Co-Determination and Worker Participation

German labour law requires companies to engage with workers’ councils (“Betriebsrat”) on hiring and workplace decisions, impacting seasonal and temporary workforce management.

Balancing Flexibility and Compliance: Workations and Co-Determination in the German Workplace

With summer in full swing, more employees are expressing interest in “workations”—the option to work remotely from abroad for a limited time. While still considered a secondary perk for many employers, this growing trend offers an attractive flexibility benefit that can help companies stand out in the competition for talent. However, beyond seasonal perks, businesses operating in Germany must address more fundamental workforce considerations.

German labour law mandates close cooperation with workers’ councils (“Betriebsrat”) on essential workplace matters, including hiring decisions and the use of temporary or seasonal staff. This co-determination framework plays a crucial role in shaping compliant and sustainable workforce strategies. Companies that can successfully balance flexible work trends with legal obligations position themselves to attract and sustain talent, while maintaining operational integrity.

Hiring in Spain

Spain’s summer labour market is shaped by regional differences, especially the heavy tourist influx in Mediterranean coastal areas, plus a strong tradition of “summer work contracts” and flexible labour regulations.

Seasonal Workforce Demand Surges

The hospitality, agriculture, and retail sectors in regions like Andalusia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands see high demand for temporary staff. Spanish labour law allows for specific summer contracts (“contratos de temporada”), which facilitate seasonal hiring but require strict compliance.

How BIPO Adds Value:
BIPO simplifies onboarding and payroll for seasonal workers through our EOR model, ensuring contract compliance and social security registration tailored to Spanish regulations.

Internship and Seasonal Student Jobs

Summer internships are common, but unpaid internships face increasing scrutiny under Spanish labour laws, with clear guidelines on remuneration and social protections.

How BIPO Adds Value:
We advise on compliant internship structures and help manage stipends and insurance, reducing legal risks and improving intern satisfaction.

Unique Opportunity: The “14th Salary” and Summer Bonuses

In Spain, some sectors and regions provide extra summer bonuses or “14th salaries” impacting payroll calculations during the summer months.

How BIPO Adds Value:
Our payroll experts ensure these seasonal payments are correctly handled, helping companies maintain compliance and employee trust.

Hiring in Türkiye

As Türkiye continues to be a dynamic and strategic gateway between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, summer brings unique workforce trends that international companies should not overlook. From seasonal employment shifts to a surge in internships, understanding Türkiye’s hiring landscape can help businesses tap into fresh talent, stay compliant, and scale operations with agility.

Seasonal Workforce Demand Surges

Summer in Türkiye, especially from June to September, sees a sharp increase in demand across sectors like tourism, hospitality, retail, and agriculture. This creates a strong market for:

• Short-term contracts and temporary staffing
• Weekend and shift workers in coastal and tourist-heavy areas (e.g., Antalya, Bodrum)
• Multi-lingual service roles in hotels, travel agencies, and call centres

Tip for Employers: While short-term hiring is common, Turkish labour law still mandates that temporary workers receive formal contracts and social security registration.

Internship Season in Full Swing

With universities on break, the summer months are prime time for internships across Türkiye. This is particularly relevant for:

• Multinational firms seeking bilingual or international-minded talent
• Tech and digital companies recruiting for junior developers or marketing roles
• Companies looking to build future pipelines for full-time hiring

Internships can be paid or unpaid, but legal frameworks vary. For example, compulsory internships tied to university programs have different requirements from voluntary summer internships.

Compliance Note: Interns are often subject to specific rules regarding insurance coverage and reporting.

How BIPO Adds Value:

BIPO supports companies in structuring internship programs that comply with local labour law—handling documentation, stipend processing, and intern onboarding. Our centralised HRMS platform also lets you track intern performance and transitions to full-time roles, helping you develop future leaders within your organisation.

Opportunities for Global Companies

Türkiye’s strategic location and young, educated population make it an attractive talent hub for companies based in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Summer is a great time to:

• Test new roles through contract-based hires
• Run employer branding campaigns targeting recent graduates
• Localise your talent strategy for the Turkish market, especially if expanding regionally

How BIPO Adds Value:

Whether you’re exploring Türkiye as a regional base or scaling an existing operation, BIPO empowers you to hire, pay, and manage employees across borders. Our cloud-based HR platform offers real-time visibility into your Turkish workforce, while our in-market experts provide on-the-ground advisory tailored to your sector and company size.

Hiring in United Kingdom

As the UK enters its summer season, the labour market experiences its usual surge in hiring — but with a post-Brexit twist. For global companies looking to hire in the UK, understanding current trends and legal requirements is crucial. From seasonal staff to graduate interns, the summer presents both challenges and opportunities for international employers.

A Shift in Summer Hiring Demand

Every summer, UK businesses — particularly in hospitality, retail, agriculture, and tourism — see an increased need for temporary, part-time, and flexible workers. But the demand isn’t limited to the frontline. Companies are also turning to freelancers, contractors, and remote workers to fill skills gaps across white-collar roles and tech startups.

Summer is also peak season for graduate recruitment and paid internships, as students and young professionals look to gain experience. The competition for top candidates means businesses must act fast — but they also need to remain fully compliant with UK employment law.

Compliance Is Non-Negotiable in the UK Labour Market

Hiring in the UK, especially for temporary or seasonal positions, comes with a range of legal obligations. Employers must ensure:

• Compliance with the National Minimum and Living Wage
• Accurate application of holiday pay and working time regulations
• Protection of statutory rights for zero-hour and part-time workers
• Proper classification of independent contractors under IR35 rules

Failing to meet these standards can result in penalties, reputation risks, and legal challenges — especially for companies unfamiliar with the UK’s evolving employment regulations.

Hiring Interns and Graduates: Legal Considerations

The summer months also attract a high volume of interns and graduate hires, including international students. However, these placements come with additional legal considerations.

UK employers must perform rigorous right-to-work checks, understand visa pathways (such as the Graduate Route and Skilled Worker visa), and comply with minimum wage and working hour restrictions for student visa holders.

For global businesses, navigating this landscape can be complex. That’s where partnering with a reliable provider becomes essential — helping you stay compliant without slowing down your hiring process.

Using Summer for Strategic Expansion

Far from being a quiet period, summer can be the ideal time to test new markets, explore remote hiring strategies, and build cost-effective teams through flexible arrangements. A growing number of global companies are using the Employer of Record (EOR) model to manage these hires — without the administrative burden of setting up a legal entity in the UK.

With the right EOR partner, you can:

• Hire and onboard workers quickly
• Ensure employment contracts meet UK legal standards
• Avoid misclassification of freelancers and contractors under IR35
• Manage payroll, HR, and statutory benefits seamlessly

How BIPO Supports Global Hiring in the UK?

At BIPO, we help international businesses scale their UK workforce smoothly and compliantly. Our Employer of Record solution allows you to:

• Focus on growth while we handle local compliance and HR infrastructure
• Onboard interns and graduate hires with full adherence to UK labour laws
• Navigate visa sponsorship and right-to-work requirements confidently
• Stay ahead of UK employment law updates, especially during busy hiring periods

Whether you’re hiring seasonal staff or building a presence in the UK market, we offer the support you need — discreetly, efficiently, and with your long-term strategy in mind.

Making Summer Hiring in the Europe Work for You

The summer hiring season in Europe offers more than short-term solutions — it’s a launchpad for strategic workforce growth. But to succeed, global companies need to move fast, stay compliant, and work with trusted partners who understand the landscape.

Let BIPO help you unlock the European talent market — with confidence, compliance, and clarity.

Get in touch with our team in Europe:

France

Germany

Spain

Türkiye

United Kingdom

the Netherlands