Four out of five college students and young graduates are looking to make extra money or gain experience during the holidays, according to the annual Holiday Jobs Survey conducted by Experience, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of career services for college students and young alumni.

The troubled economy looks to be a significant factor in securing seasonal jobs in 2008: although 79 percent of Gen Y respondents reported they plan to work during the upcoming winter break, only 22 percent confirmed they have landed a part-time or full-time job. Of those still looking, more than half (53 percent) think they are unlikely to secure a position.

In comparing results to Experience’s 2007 Holiday Jobs Survey, nearly half (47 percent) of survey respondents had already secured a holiday job by early November – representing a decline of 25 percent in 2008. Sixty percent reported searching before November, compared to just 20 percent last year. More respondents in 2008 are also looking to work full-time (45 percent), and the percentage of students who are willing to work more than five weeks – at 47 percent – more than doubled over 2007.

Gen Y job seekers anticipate finding employment through their university career centers (22 percent), word-of-mouth (23 percent) and online job boards (21 percent). They rated the following areas as the most desirable holiday jobs:

* Retail (24%)
* New internship (23%)
* Hotel/restaurant (18%)
* Vacation destination (13%)

College students are primarily seeking work to earn extra money (32 percent) and to gain experience (27 percent). When asked specifically about holiday spending habits, 67 percent reported they do not accumulate debt over the holidays related to gifts or entertainment. The majority (75 percent) said they spend less than $500 on gifts for family and friends.

"Given the economic climate, candidates seeking extra income this holiday season need to be aggressive in searching for opportunities and identify themselves as ambitious, hardworking and resourceful," said Jennifer Floren, founder and CEO of Experience, Inc. "College and grad students may also find that the winter break is the ideal time to set up job shadow opportunities and make networking connections, both of which will pay off down the road."