Some NIU students could find themselves unemployed this summer.

Many financial analysts believe the U.S. economy is heading toward, or is already in, a recession. For this reason, some economists think that young people, such as many NIU students, may have trouble landing a summer job.

“The summer job market depends on the ability of corporations or other proprietorships to hire workers, and that depends on how the economy is doing,” said economics professor Khan Mohabbat. “It seems we are in the beginning of a recession that perhaps started one or two months ago.”

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment rate for Illinois this past March was 5.6 percent, which was up from 4.6 percent in March 2007. Some economists think it could rise.

“Many people are thinking that unemployment is going to rise,” said Carl Campbell, associate professor and assistant chair of economics. “By the summertime, it may be harder for people to find jobs.”

An NIU study titled “The State of Working Illinois 2007” said the declining employment rate of 16- to 24-year-olds is “troubling.” The rate has dropped 9 percent from 2000 to 2006, the study reported.

Kevin Stone, sophomore applied mathematics major, had trouble finding a job last summer and thinks the current economy will make it even harder for students to land jobs this summer.

On the other hand, senior accounting major Esther Chen said the poor economy may actually be beneficial to some college students because employers are looking to hire cheaper, entry-level workers.

“These days, it’s really good for college kids because higher paying jobs are being scrapped,” she said.

Mary Myers, associate director of campus and employer relations, said she hasn’t noticed a change in this year’s summer job market.

“The trend has been very positive on this end,” she said. “All indications are employers are here, they’re interviewing, they’re recruiting. Everything you’re hearing about the economy would lead you to believe otherwise.”

Certain fields, such as retail and services, are doing better economically than others, Mohabbat said. He advises students to be persistent in job hunting.

“Students really have to look much harder than they normally would,” he said. “They should send their resumes as soon as they can.”