Student worry about jobs

Press, 26 December 1979, Page 4

Student worry about jobs

PA Wellington The figures of student unemployment announced on December 14 are appalling, according to the president of the New Zealand University ■Students’ Association (Mr C. J. Gosling). I In spite of the optimism of the Labour Department that the employment situation would improve for students, the latest figures

(showed that student unemployment this year was (double that of a year ago, ■Mr Gosling said. i At December 14. 2583 stufdents had been registered as (unemployed, compared with 11362 at the same time last 'year. Wellington. Hamilton, j Dunedin, and Christchurch had been affected particularly hard, with the jobless, levels twice or in some,

cases three times those of a year ago. Labour Department officials had tried to put the increased figures down tc more students registering as unemployed in order to get .in the Student Community [Service Programme. i But the programme had now been running for a month and a half and the trend had remained the same, clearly indicating that students faced an impossible task in trying to get a job. “The figures are particularly worrying given that many employers lay off their student workers after the busy Christmas period,” said Mr Gosling. "It has become obvious that the Labour Department, affected by staff ceilings, Had not been able to cope with the growing number of .unemployed students. "Much of the blame must

i rest on the Minister of i Labour, who should have in- . troduced procedures much . earlier in the year to ensure /that the Labour Department. , was equipped to deal quickly with the Student Community I Service Programme. "N.Z.L.S.A is particularly , fearful for the position of [[students who have their va,,cation earnings impaired, because of the new tertiary study-grant scheme. jl "Although unemployment [is a factor in the assessment (of hardship grants for stu- ; dents, the Minister has indicated that there will be a long delay before most students actually get their (grant. 1 “With no money to pav for the early-year university ,'costs such as textbooks, .fees, hostel charges, flat ■ bonds, and so on many students will have to think twice before they decide to enrol next year."