The unemployment rate in Austin jumps in May and June but then begins to ease downward again in July and August as the market absorbs the new employees, said Larry Jones, public information officer with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Many students have had to lower their expectations and take menial jobs to support themselves. Others are thankful they already have solid, regular employment.

"I've been working here for two years, so I don't have to worry," said Brandi Hinson, journalism senior and employee at Metro, a coffee shop on Guadalupe. "Especially at the beginning of the summer, we get a few people a day asking for applications."

The summertime job crunch happens annually but has been especially severe this year, Jones said.

"Between May and June, the unemployment rate will rise. This happens every year," he said. "When high schools and universities let out, we see students and graduates entering the workforce. Additionally, there's a whole group of people like maintenance and cafeteria workers, people who work in various support occupations, who enter the labor market right along with the students. Many of those folks haven't found employment by the first month of the summer."

According to statistics collected by the Texas Workforce Commission, the unemployment rate rose from 5.6 to 6.4 percent between April and June 2002, but by September of that year, the unemployment rate had settled again. The same can be expected for summer 2003, Jones said.

The current economic slump intensifies the problem, but its effect shouldn't be exaggerated, he said.

"Let's not paint a picture of gloom," Jones said. "The unemployment rate for last April was 5.6 percent. For this April it was 5.3 percent. So the labor market is not as tight as many people think it is. It's improving."

Jones acknowledged that several years ago the employment rate hovered around 2.5 to 3 percent, but that recent events, such as the high-tech crash and the Sept. 11 attacks, have caused it to rise dramatically.

"We saw huge layoffs in the airline industries. The tourism industry saw layoffs. All of these layoffs had to be absorbed into the market. The layoffs have slowed over the last six to eight months, but people are still searching for work," Jones said.

Temporary summertime work is notoriously difficult to find, said Robert Crawley, an economist with the Texas Workforce Commission.

"Generally when someone's talking about summer job seekers, that's considered temporary work. I know that most employers in Texas that have a permanent job opening just won't consider a temporary person for the summer because of training and time costs," Crawley said.

He suggested that students pursue jobs in the leisure and hospitality sectors, such as restaurants, because those industries experience increased business activity during the summer months and need more employees.

Lynne Milburn, associate director of the UT Career Exploration Center, said students have a difficult time competing with college graduates seeking full-time positions and are often forced to choose between paid menial jobs and volunteer or internship work.

"With summer employment, it's really important to start early with the applications. By now the horse is already out of the barn," Milburn said. "This is a good time to shake your family tree and try and make some networking connections."

She encouraged students to stop in to one of the 16 college career services on campus for help finding a good position.

"It's out there, but it can be hard to find," Milburn said.

Students seeking full-time employment may have an especially difficult time, said Alison Davis-Blake, chair of the management department at the Red McCombs School of Business.

"Firms and businesses of all types are being conservative in their hiring," she said. "Most positions offered are part-time, and there's more competition for the full-time positions."

This mirrors a nationwide trend reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, which has recorded rising employment in the part-time sector.

Mirna Benhamou, an assistant director with Hire-a-Longhorn, a service offered through UT Student Financial Services, said said many students find clerical positions or work as lab assistants over the summer.

"If a student comes to us and they have no idea what they want to do, we always refer them to the Hire-a-Longhorn Web site. It has postings for work-study and also for non-work study jobs," Benhamou said.

Jones, who regularly works with students looking for summer employment, offered tips to ease the process.

"Number one is you gotta start early," Jones said.

He also suggested students visit the nearest workforce center; carefully prepare their resume, cover letter and job application; network and prepare thoroughly for the interview.

"College students should really have an advantage," Jones said.

http://www.dailytexanonline.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/06/10/3ee5896d21515