Three in four businesses use job students

Most employers (60%) reported hiring job students to lighten the load of full-time employees. Another third said they chose job students because they offer more flexibility. Three out of 10 said they regarded job students as potential future employees and considered the process a possible recruiting channel.

The status of job student was recently extended to allow them to work not only during holiday periods but also at other times of the year without losing their special tax status. Before 2012, students could work only during two specific periods a year for no more than 23 days each; now the annual allowance is 50 days anytime.

Last year saw more than 400,000 students employed during the third quarter – the period including the summer vacation – up from 398,000 the year before. Job students worked a total of 9.88 million days in 2013, twice as many as in 2012 and an average of 22 days each.

“Job students are valued by employers,” said Unizo director general Karel Van Eetvelt. “They can be used with flexibility, to cope with peaks in work volume. However, more flexibility is needed.”

Van Eetvelt pointed out that a student who works only two hours on a given day loses a whole day from their 50-day allowance. Employers would prefer to switch to a system of hours – or at least half-days – rather than full days.

At the other end of the career scale, another Unizo poll shows that hiring job applicants over the age of 50 offers a direct financial advantage to companies. As part of the latest phase of state reforms, the premium offered for the hiring of target groups – including the older unemployed – is paid by the regions and not the national social security office RSZ.

Flanders already operated a premium system for companies employing over-50s and Unizo found that whether RSZ or Flemish, the premium represented a real advantage for companies that receive it. In addition, nine out of 10 employers found an older workers’ experience worked in their favour, and half said their leadership potential was also an advantage. However, older employees also come with higher salary expectations and bridging pension rights.

Photo courtesy Ingimage