Vince Vicari, junior journalism major, will lose six and a half hours of pay as a result Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s authorized furlough plan that will prevent him from working on two Fridays each month. Vicari, a student assistant at the California Air Resources Board, said he is trying to save money and taking the bus everywhere to save gas.

Employers from retail stores to Sacramento State’s on-campus jobs are cutting back on work hours during a time when there is an increasing number of students applying for jobs.

Scott Schmillen, a manager at the Trader Joe’s grocery store located on 5000 Folsom Blvd., said that most applicants who apply at Trader Joe’s are college students; he has laid off five people in the last month, due to the weakening economy.

“Sometimes we lose some people and sometimes we just cut back on a good amount of hours to where some stick around to keep their job, but some leave because (there are) just not enough hours for them,” Schmillen said.

Students are not the only ones feeling the work hour pinch. According to Executive Order S-16-08, state employees will be furloughed, or temporarily laid off from work, for two days per month starting Feb. 1 through June 30, 2010.

Junior business major Lorenzo Almanza, also employed with the California Air Resources Board, said that he is losing 18 hours of work a month because of the furlough.

“I’m probably not going to eat out as much, or drive as much.” Almanza said. “It’s not going to be very comfortable.”

Almanza said that he knows Sac State graduates who are having difficulty finding jobs in the market right now.

Celexsy Adame, University Enterprises, Inc. Director of Marketing Services, said that about 500 students who work through UEI had their work time reduced because of the executive order.

“There has been an increase in students who have been laid off. It has to do with the state’s executive order,” Adame said.

According to the executive order, issued last July, state agencies under the governor’s executive authority are to terminate the services of certain state workers, including student assistants.

Working at the California Air Resources Board as a student assistant, junior health science major Mike Veridiano said that he has to save a lot more and work more hours instead of focusing on school.

“Students should try to be optimistic as possible. Sure, being laid off is a drag, but it’ll give them more time to focus on school,” Veridiano said.

On campus, Dining Commons Production Manager Angel Balaoing said there has been a 25 percent increase in the number of students applying through UEI to work there this semester.

Demetri Lopotan, manager at Burger King located in the University Union, said that a lot of students turn in applications, but it’s tough right now to hire them because there are not that many hours.

“When someone turns in or somebody quits, that’s the only time we have opening jobs,” Lopotan said.

Businesses within a one-mile radius of campus, such as Jamba Juice and Starbucks, noticed an increasing number of students applying at their locations.

Rad Bauton, from the Starbucks located on 508 Pavilions Lane, said most locations are “overstaffed at the moment.”

Not all places have seen an increase in students applying for jobs. Erika Torres, manager at the Gordito Burrito located in the Union, said they have not received any new applications from any students, a decrease from last semester.

John Adcock, manager of Java City located on campus, said that there hasn’t been an increase in students applying, and it’s been about the same this semester.

“We have cut back on 60-70 hours, and we are actually looking at probably laying off a few people,” Adcock said.

Lo Saetern, manager at Walgreens located on 4200 Arden Way, said that students haven’t been applying, and it is also a decrease from last year.

“We haven’t laid off, but we have cut back on hours, at least 60 hours per week,” Saetern said.

Jessica Molton, a manager at Round Table Pizza located in the Union, has also cut back on hours. Student applications, however, have increased.

“Apply everywhere and be patient. I know because I was there, but I found a job thankfully. A lot of people just can’t. Patience is a virtue,” Molton said.

Catherine Robledo can be reached at [email protected]