16 January 2004 Media Statement

Great summer for student employment

Students are reaping the advantages of New Zealand’s buoyant employment market and are being placed into summer jobs of longer duration, Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said today.

Information from Student Job Search and StudyLink shows applications for the Unemployment Benefit (Student Hardship) have declined this summer, while placements into jobs of 30 hours or more per week have increased.

To date 20,534 students have applied for the Unemployment Benefit (Student Hardship), compared with 22,926 applications received at this time in 2003. Student Job Search has placed 20,504 students in to work to date this summer – slightly down on the 20,766 placed at the same time in 2003,but within striking distance of the 30,000 placements it is targeting this summer. Job duration has increased significantly this summer with 3,553 placements into jobs of 30 hours per week or more lasting at least four weeks (compared with 2,673 placements at the same time in 2003).

Steve Maharey said students have been placed in to 94,085 weeks of work so far this summer, well up on the 91,444 weeks of work achieved by this time in 2003.

“This summer is turning out to be a good one for students looking for work. Placements by Student Job Search confirm other employment trends which all point to the continued strength of our economy and the labour market in particular.

“Summer work for students brings many advantages including income for the academic year ahead, practical job experience which is invaluable when graduates are looking for full-time work once they have finished their studies and a flexible workforce which employers can utilise for project and other temporary work.

“There are still students available looking for summer work. I’d encourage New Zealanders to contact Student Job Search and discuss with them their requirements because there is almost certainly a student with the right skills and abilities ready to start immediately,” Steve Maharey said.

ENDS

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