For students facing a highly competitive job market, a successful application can mean a lot more than simply earning an income.
That was certainly the case for Victoria University of Wellington film student Jaymee Frater who, having moved to Wellington to study, found connection and a sense of belonging in her part-time job.
“Getting a job and finding long-term roles is really tough,” she says.
After several set-backs on her job-seeking journey, she found a tutoring role through Student Job Search. A family in Kelburn were looking for someone to support their son with English, handwriting, spelling, and some weekly art time.
The part-time job worked well around her study and became one of the most rewarding aspects of her time at university.
“It’s been almost two years of working for that family and they’re just the loveliest. I would go straight from class to their house, and the short bus ride from campus makes it easy and consistent.”
More than a job, though, the family has become a source of warmth and belonging during her years in Wellington.
“They will cook me dinner and have me round, buy me Christmas presents. It’s really wholesome.”
Having steady, reliable work for nearly two years gave her financial stability in a city where the cost of living is high. The weekly tutoring income helped her cover basics like rent and groceries without derailing her study schedule.
Student Job Search Chief Executive Louise Saviker says that while the economy is slowly recovering, the student job market remains highly competitive as demand continues to outweigh supply.
“There were more than 38,000 job applications submitted through Student Job Search in January and 4600 vacancies listed,” she says.
“Students continue to actively pursue opportunities that support both financial wellbeing and skill development, particularly through casual and short-term roles. We know students are eager to work, many tell us they are applying for more than 30 jobs before finding something. They just need opportunities.”
Louise says the team at Student Job Search has been exploring historical data and it is clear that while the student job market generally tracks the wider market, the peaks and troughs are more extreme.
For example, according to Stats NZ overall unemployment in New Zealand for the last quarter of 2025 was 5.4%. For people aged between 15 and 24, that figure is 16.5%.
Student Job Search’s data shows short-term, casual and seasonal roles now dominate, so many of the students who are employed cannot get the hours they want or need.
“Permanent full-time roles for graduates are also proving hard to come by,” Louise says.
“Many graduates are taking up part-time roles in retail and hospitality, intensifying competition for currently enrolled students seeking flexible work. Students need paid employment to pay for rent, food and transport. Put simply, they need money to survive.”
Student Job Search continues to advocate for student employment, reminding potential employers that we all started somewhere and giving a student an opportunity can mean more than just an income.
To register as a student job-seeker, or list a job as an employer, go to www.sjs.co.nz.