Harvard students will have to look harder and search longer to land summer jobs this year, according to Richard L. McVity, Assistant Director of Student Employment. He estimated that the overall number of jobs listed with the summer employment office has dropped from last year, although employment prospects in Boston are somewhat better.

McVity attributed the decrease in job opportunities to generally slow business conditions in the country. Finding employment in cities hard hit by the recession, such as Chicago and Detroit, will be particularly difficult, he said.

Each year 800-900 students take advantage of the services of the summer employment office, which has had separate quarters in Weld Hall since 1958. Next year, however, it will become part of the Office of Student Employment once again, moving to the new building on Mt. Auburn St.