The traditional student side job, stocking shelves, hospitality, retail, is on the verge of disappearing. During a recent trend session on the recruitment of students and graduates, a seismic shift in the student labor market was revealed. The modern student does not work less, but works fundamentally differently. A reality with far-reaching consequences for any employer seeking to attract young talent.
Recent data shows that the percentage of students with a “traditional” side job has dropped sharply. Where a substantial share of the student population used to work in supermarkets or behind the bar, this number is now significantly lower. This is not caused by a lack of willingness to work, but by a combination of financial necessity and strategic career planning.
With the abolition of the basic student grant and rising living costs, financial pressure on students has increased dramatically. A simple side job is often no longer sufficient to pay the bills.
This pressure forces students to make choices. They actively seek study-related work that not only pays better, but also directly contributes to their CV and future career. The “side job” has evolved into a “relevant job.”
This means that competition for employers no longer comes only from the supermarket around the corner, but from organizations offering intellectually engaging and well-paid part-time roles that align with a student’s field of study.
Speaker Geert-Jan Waasdorp emphasized during the session that this change is structural.
This means that employers who wait until a student has graduated have already missed the boat. Graduate recruitment now starts in the second or third year of study, by offering valuable, relevant work experience.
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