Jobs tough to come by, Indian students in US turn babysitters

Jobs tough to come by, Indian students in US turn babysitters

Nirupa.Vatyam@timesofindia.com 22.11.2024 

TIMES OF INDIA BANGALORE 

Hyderabad : It was once the best of times. But for students in the US now, it appears to be getting worse by the day. While as per US norms students are allowed to take up only on-campus work, many used to find part-time (illegal) work outside to cover their expenses. But with such part-time work too becoming difficult to find in the current market, to make ends meet a lot of students have turned to finding jobs next door — babysitting. Students from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere are now tapping into the Indian community settled there to find a way out of a financial hole. This is also a preferred option for many girls as it provides for a safer work environment and they get paid anywhere between $13 and $18 per hour, with some even covering food, accommodation, or both. 

“I babysit a six-year-old boy for about eight hours a day and get paid $13 an hour. I also get a meal for taking care of the boy,” said a student from the Hyderabad studying in Ohio, adding that it was way better than working in a local store or gas station as the job is within the community she lives in.

Another Telugu student in Connecticut said she is provided with food and accommodation by her employer. “I have to take care of a two-and-a-half-year-old six days a week. For those six days, food and accommodation are taken care of by the girl’s parents. On Sundays, I stay in my friend’s room,” the 23-year-old said. 

She said she gets paid only about $10 an hour, but was more than happy to take the job as her rent was covered. On an average a student spends about $300 per month on rent in the US. According to the Open Doors 2024 report, there are about 39,000 Indian students in Texas, 20,000 in Illinois, 13,500 in Ohio, and 7,000 in Connecticut. Of these, about 50% are Telugu students.