The number of students taking part time work during term times has increased dramatically of late after falling over the last two years. A report by NatWest shows that 42% of undergraduates are in part time employment earning upwards of £2 billion between them. However, while the increase in working hours has been marked, so has the rise in the cost of living for students – hitting nearly £11 billion after a £500 million rise on the 2007 figure.

While the rise in the number of students taking on working during term time is not surprising in the current economic environment it is worrying to see much of the onus taken off actual education time. The last twenty years has slowly seen student grants wound down and the cost of living and further education move sharply higher (except in Scotland where it is still free).

When you add this increase in costs to the fact that employment is not as readily available as used to be – especially at graduate level – many are expecting the number moving into further education to fall over the next couple of years. While the short term affects to the economy may be minimal a reduced intake of graduates could have an affect on the employment market in the medium to longer term.

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