Downturn hits students' finances

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By Anna-Louise Taylor BBC News I have had a look on the internet at what jobs are available, and I've found it really difficult to find anything Liz Ryan, student Students are beginning to suffer from the effects of the economic downturn, with part-time jobs starting to dry up in some areas.

Liz Ryan, 25, is studying creative advertising strategy at the London College of Communication.

She has been forced to quit her job in nanny recruitment, as a new timetable this term means she cannot attend both university and put in enough hours at work to keep her employer happy.

"I have had a look on the internet at what jobs are available, and I've found it really difficult to find anything.

"The nanny recruitment job was really flexible, but I can't do enough hours to keep my boss happy.

"I'm not under pressure for the next three months to get a job straight away as I still have commission coming in, but after that, well I'm quite worried, as I can only get a bar job.

"Quite a few people on my course are looking at moving to universities outside London, where it's cheaper, they have a stronger on-campus life and more support.

"They're having to swap courses as they can't afford it, and can't get work.

"One friend told me 'There's no way I can keep this up'."

Ernest Opoku, an 18-year-old London College of Communication student, is one of the lucky ones, with his part-time job at a French Connection store still safe.

But some of the east London youth's friends lost their part-time jobs when Woolworths went bust. Some students lost their part-time jobs when Woolworths closed down

"It has always been hard but recently it got even harder, some of my friends have lost their jobs, and it's quite expensive in London.

"My flat is a council flat, so rent is quite cheap, and as a student I don't have to pay council tax.

"But what would I do if I lost my job? I'd be totally screwed."

Jonathan Dodds, welfare officer at London South Bank University Students' Union, is concerned that traditional student jobs, like bar work and in retail are becoming scarce, as bars, shops and restaurants start to close down.

"My worry is... as we've seen with Woolworths going bust... there's been massive job losses in these sectors so jobs, traditional jobs students normally go for - like in retail - are becoming rarer."

Joseph Gilder, 21, communications and campaigns officer at the University of Bristol Students' Union, said students' grades were suffering as they were having to work longer hours. There has been an absolutely horrific shortage of job adverts in Bristol Joseph Gilder, University of Bristol Students' Union

An HSBC and National Union of Students survey in November found 45% of students that work admit that they had to sacrifice their grades in order to do so.

It also found that a third of students work more than 17 hours a week, and 3% have to work more than 33 hours.

But Mr Gilder said the jobs were getting harder to find.

"There has been an absolutely horrific shortage of job adverts in Bristol," he said.

"My housemate was just made redundant and was looking for a part-time job and there is nothing being advertised, those looking for work at a low level, they'll be struggling to find anything.

"Students have to exist on such a small amount and the grants they receive are not enough, even with wages it's not enough, particularly with the expense of living especially in Bristol and London, it's so expensive.

"The government drastically needs to change its funding system to ease students' burdens."

Wes Streeting, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), said: "It isn't just graduate jobs which are at risk from the credit crunch.

"Many students have to work part-time to finance their studies, and we may see more of them having to drop out if they lose these jobs," he added. Many students have to work part-time to finance their studies, and we may see more of them having to drop out if they lose these jobs Wes Streeting, NUS president

Jonathan Dodds said with money getting tighter, students' attitudes to spending were changing.

"There has been a cutback in the amount students are spending - it is affecting places on the South Bank, bars and restaurants.

"A lot more students are staying in, going to house parties rather than pubs."

But he said students have always been adaptable.

"If they can't work in a bar, they can work in a shop, or if they can't get work in a shop they'll work in a call centre."

The president of the Cambridge University Students' Union, Mark Fletcher, 23, said the biggest effect that the "credit crunch" was having was that it was causing concern about the job market.

"When many current students started their courses it looked like a foregone conclusion that there would be a job waiting after graduation, and now there is just uncertainty," he said.

"I think there is widespread acknowledgement that this is a good time to be a student in Cambridge with the job market in its current state, but I doubt this optimism will last if those who graduate have nowhere to work."

Mr Gilder said: "It's grades and student welfare suffering - that can't be healthy."