Niseko tops a study of 88 destinations across 21 countries, while New Zealand dominates the global rankings and European ski resorts and party towns also make the top 20

A Japanese ski resort has been named the world’s best destination for seasonal workers in a study comparing living costs, rent affordability, job demand, safety and things to do across 88 locations.

Niseko, on the northern island of Hokkaido, topped the ranking with 79 points out of 100, helped by a safety score of 92.9 and comparatively affordable everyday costs. 

Its four linked villages are said to attract an “international English-speaking crowd”, with seasonal opportunities including hospitality, ski-school and lift work.

Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo came second with 73.1 points and recorded the highest safety score in the study, while Central Otago in New Zealand was third and ranked as the best destination for seasonal agricultural work.

New Zealand dominated the wider rankings, claiming eight of the top 20 places. Central Otago was third overall, followed by Queenstown in fourth, Dunedin fifth and Wanaka sixth, with Nelson, Rotorua, Motueka and Wellington also making the list.

Dunedin was also the highest-ranked destination in the hospitality category, while Central Otago led the study for seasonal agricultural work.

European destinations also performed strongly, with Austria’s St Anton ranking eighth, followed by Kavos in Corfu in ninth and France’s Val d’Isère in tenth place. Zermatt, Malia, Courchevel, Benidorm, Faliraki, Albufeira and Malaga all made the top 20.

The study, carried out by money-transfer company Remitly, assessed well-known destinations across ski and winter work, hospitality and party resorts, and fruit-picking regions. Each was scored against living costs, rent affordability relative to the local minimum wage, attractions, and demand for seasonal jobs and safety, and drew on sources including TripAdvisor.

Kym Whitford, from Remitly Asia Pacific, said: “New Zealand is a real draw for seasonal workers. Its ski, agriculture, and hospitality sectors offer globally competitive opportunities across the year. In our study they are globally ranked highly based on work opportunities, leisure activities, and high safety levels.

“There is no single best destination in the world, as the right choice depends on the type of work and life someone is looking for. 

“But whether people are seeking seasonal work to send money home to support their families, or looking for an adventurous working holiday, New Zealand is a strong contender.” 

READ MORE: How Japan’s beer-and-ski city became a global testbed for green AI. As the energy demands of artificial intelligence intensify, Japan’s northern city of Sapporo is emerging as a proving ground where renewable power, advanced infrastructure and government policy converge to test whether large-scale AI growth can align with decarbonisation, writes Andrea Busfield. 

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_{Main image: A snowboarder takes on the deep winter snow of Niseko, Japan, which topped a global ranking of the best destinations for seasonal workers. Mount Yotei, near Niseko, is pictured in the background. Credit: Shashank Brahmavar / Pexels; Oga / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0}