Even little Orphan Annie would agree that it’s a “hard-knock life” for college students. To cover tuition, books and class fees, finding a job has become a rising trend among many students.

At the U. North Alabama’s annual part-time job fair on August 26, several students including Matt Denton attended in hopes of finding the perfect job that would cure their hunger pains. Denton said he would work almost anywhere to make extra money. Unfortunately, many other students share his opinion.

Job seeking students were able to apply for positions at over eleven different businesses located in the Florence and Muscle Shoals areas. There were several representatives for campus jobs present, such as the dining services, which have seventy available positions, and Listerhill Credit Union, a new addition to the UNA campus. Listerhill is offering six financial positions available to any student as long as he or she is willing to live up to the Campus Branch Manager Heather Brown’s expectations of “people helping people.”

The UNA part-time job fair helped connect students with community businesses in hopes of reducing the unemployment rate in the Florence area.

In July, the unemployment rate for the state of Alabama fell from 10.3% to 9.7%, the lowest it has been in fifteen months. However, most students and employers at the university’s job fair had mixed views concerning the new trend of Alabama’s economy. Andrew Luna, the professor of SOMETHING, said, “Jobs generally move with the economy, but it’s too early to tell.” He added, “The economy could use more innovative students” to do something different and create more jobs.

According to wtvy.com, “Alabama is on the right track when it comes to creating jobs.” Governor Bob Riley agrees with this statement; he too believes Alabama’s decreasing unemployment rate is a positive sign. Hopefully UNA will continue to send out innovative students who boost the economy and allow the job market to prosper.

Although there were mixed feelings about the economy, all were in agreement that an improved economy would be ideal for everyone in the state of Alabama. As Stephanie Tanner of Popeye’s said, “These people need money so they can buy chicken!”

With a new academic year just beginning and local businesses already interested in hiring students from the University of North Alabama, it is safe to say the unemployment rate in the Florence area will continue to drop as the year progresses.