Students may have a tough time getting holiday jobs during Winter Break this year.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in October that the Midwest's unemployment rate was 6.7, two points higher than the national rate and the second highest regional unemployment rate in the United States.
Freshman history major Robbie Ross said he started submitting applications to numerous clothing stores and restaurants in Muncie including The Buckle, American Eagle, Chili's and T.G.I. Fridays in October but, despite his impressive resume, has yet to receive a response.
"I don't have any money now, not even for Christmas presents," Ross said. "I can live without a job, but it would make things a lot easier if I had one."
Hannah Drake, a freshman theater studies major, said she was invited to come back to work at her summer employer, Lexicomp, a Hudson, Ohio based medical publishing company. She said only one student out of the nine others she worked with will be returning with her.
"I'm going to miss working with all of my friends," Drake said.
Michael Hicks, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research said employment will be scarce over the holidays, but even in an economic recession shopping still occurs.
Hicks also said he doesn't expect many job opportunities in food and financial services and a student's geographic location will determine their success in finding a job.
"If you're returning to a big city for the holidays you should be able to get a job at a department store," Hicks said. "But if you're going back to a small town it's going to be a bit more rough."
Internship opportunities have also been compromised due to the economic crisis.
Max Walling, a graduate student in political science, said he had between 8 and 10 open job applications and two interviews with the Indiana State Government that were cancelled in mid-November by the Governor's office.
However, not all students had trouble finding work over the holidays.
Freshman secondary education major Jordan Pridemore said she had three jobs secured over holiday break. She said she can either baby sit or work for her town's local newspaper or library.
"It's really easy to get jobs at locally owned places rather than giant corporate chain stores," Pridemore said. "Especially if you establish a relationship with the owners, which trumps any resume."
Although jobs are scarce for the holiday season, the future will be even more bleak, Hicks said.
"We are just about to move into the worse part of the recession," Hicks said. "In the coming months, things are going to get worse."
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