Throughout the fall semester, USC finance student and law school hopeful Daniel Craig worked as a courier at Columbia area firm Richardson Plowden and Robinson. Once spring began, so too did Craig’s new internship at the State House as part of a political science class requirement. Because of the requirements on his time, Craig had to give up his hours at Richardson Plowden and Robinson.
However now that summer is drawing near and his internship is wrapping up, Craig headed back to his former employer to try to get his job back for the summer – only to find that his job might not be there for him because other college students are vying for the same job.
It’s all a part of the harsh reality that will be facing many college students this summer: that a weakened economy will not be able to support all the summer jobs that were once available for college kids.
“I was kind of hoping to get my hours at the firm back,” Craig said. “It will be tough if I don’t. I need some kind of income to pay bills and buy food. I’ll just have to go out job searching.”
Throughout his high school years, Craig had no trouble ever finding a summer job. Two summers was spent as a cart and driving range attendant; another was spent interning at an Edward Jones branch office in his hometown of Woodruff, SC. This summer, however, might be a different story.
“Like I said before, I’ll just have to try hard to find somewhere to work this summer,” Craig said. “And I won’t be as selective in where I apply as I have been in the past. The job market will be so small, because not only am I competing against other college and high school aged kids, I’ll be competing with experienced adults as well who have recently lost their jobs.”
Recent statistics from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics may prove Craig does indeed face an uphill battle.
According to the data released in February, South Carolina ranks No. 50 out of 51 -- including the District of Columbia -- with a staggering 11 percent unemployment rate.
Neighboring states like Georgia are using their share of the federal stimulus package – according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, some $31 million – to help youth across the state lock down jobs for the summer.
However, with Gov. Mark Sanford threatening to refuse much of South Carolina’s share, no such program will be possible.
Clay Nims, a third year finance student and a classmate of Craig’s at USC, agrees that the climate isn’t exactly conducive for someone in his position.
“Not only do I need a job this summer, but I’ll also be taking summer classes,” Nims said. “So it’ll be hard to find a place where they’ll work around my limited schedule.
“The economy is just in bad shape right now, and of course that will affect kids in college looking for jobs. Not only that, but I’m sure it won’t be much better looking for a job when I graduate next year.”
Like Craig, Nims held various jobs throughout his high school years, including working at his local golf course in Clover, SC. Even last year, he was able to get a summer internship.
“Luckily, I was able to get an internship with the company my dad runs last summer,” Nims said. “Even though I wasn’t paid very much, it was a great experience which will hopefully help me get a job once I do graduate. Even so, it won’t help me this summer.”
Craig said he might turn to the internet to help him find a job.
“I know there are websites out there that specialize in summer jobs, like snag a job and summerjobs.com,” Craig said. “Maybe that will help me out. I’m also seeing if my internship at the state house can help me land a job there for the summer. Who knows, I might even get my job with the (law) firm back. Right now it’s wait and see.
“I’ll probably be driving less, eating in more, and staying at home a lot more this summer just so I can save a little money.”
Nims said that, like many other college students do, he’ll probably turn to the service industry.
“Hopefully there will be some restaurants and bars that can use some help this summer,” Nims said. “That’s something, especially at a bar, where I can go to class in the afternoon and then go to work at night. It looks like it might not be a very fun summer, but what can you do? I’ll just have to tough it out and cut back on things that I normally did during the summer, like going on several vacations and eating out a lot with friends.
“Either way, it’ll be interesting to see how this summer turns out.”
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