For many students, work has become a financial necessity
Student employment is becoming an integral part of the student journey
New research from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) shows that a substantial group of students now work in some capacity as student workers, both during the summer holidays and throughout the academic year. Working during term time has become almost as commonplace as the traditional summer job. The researchers, including VUB sociologist Karen Van Aerden (BRISPO Research Group), warn that student employment is increasingly becoming a financial necessity for a substantial group of students, with implications for academic success, wellbeing and equality.
According to the study (it should be noted that the sample was not statistically representative, although it does provide a reliable indication of broader trends), 87 per cent of students worked during the previous summer holiday, while 83 per cent reported working during the academic year as well. On average, students worked 31 days over the summer and 16.6 hours per week during term time. Moreover, half of the students indicated that they would like to work more since the federal government increased the annual student work allowance from 475 to 650 hours.
“Student employment is no longer a marginal phenomenon”, says Karen Van Aerden, sociologist at VUB. “For many students, paid work has become a structural part of their educational trajectory. That is not necessarily problematic, unless working becomes a financial necessity and starts to come at the expense of studying.”
The research shows that 42 per cent of students work in order to support themselves or their families financially. For 29 per cent, covering the cost of their studies is a major reason for taking on a student job. At the same time, 86 per cent say they work to fund leisure activities, while 82 per cent are saving money for the future.
Financial pressure is not evenly distributed. Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, students with a migrant background and students living independently are significantly more likely to report working in order to pay for their studies or to support their household financially.
That financial pressure has a direct impact on academic life. One in three students reports regularly missing classes or other teaching activities because of work. For 14 per cent, this happens frequently.17 per cent say they regularly watch recorded lectures because their student job cannot be reconciled with being physically present on campus. Sixteen per cent of working students report difficulties in balancing employment with their studies.
“Students who work out of financial necessity face the greatest risk of a conflict between work and study”, says Van Aerden. “They need to work in order to finance their education, but in doing so they risk delaying their studies. This creates a vicious circle in which inequality reinforces itself.”
Notably, only 9 per cent of students believe that student employment has a positive impact on their academic performance, while 43 per cent disagree with that statement.
The study also provides, for the first time, a detailed picture of the quality of student jobs. Two sectors dominate: 40 per cent of students work in hospitality and 27 per cent in retail. Nearly two-thirds of all student jobs are in sales and service occupations. These jobs often require students to accept irregular working hours. Six in ten regularly work between 5 pm and 7 pm, while 42 per cent work between 7 pm and 10 pm. Nearly two-thirds frequently work on Saturdays and 45 per cent on Sundays and public holidays.
In addition, a substantial group of students feel vulnerable in the workplace. Almost one in three does not feel comfortable asking for better working conditions. More than one in five fears losing their job if they do not immediately comply with instructions. Experiences of inappropriate behaviour are also far from uncommon. Thirteen per cent of students report verbal abuse, 11 per cent unwanted sexual attention, and 17 per cent have encountered stereotypes or prejudice while at work. Students who depend on their job to finance their studies report these problems significantly more often.
Although student employment is often presented as a stepping stone into the labour market, the link appears to be limited. Only one in four students says they actually use knowledge or skills acquired through their studies in their student job. Three out of four believe their studies have little relevance to the work they perform. On the other hand, four in five students say they acquire new skills through their job.
The researchers see this as an important societal challenge. “We increasingly encourage students to take on paid work, while at the same time expecting them to complete their studies without delay”, says Van Aerden. “That is a paradox that disproportionately affects students from financially vulnerable backgrounds. If we are serious about equal opportunities, we need to ensure that studying can once again be a student’s primary activity, and that working remains a choice rather than a necessity.”
The study was conducted by the Brussels Institute for Social and Population Studies (BRISPO) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel among a non-representative sample of 3,433 students enrolled in Belgian higher education institutions.
More information:
Dr Karen Van Aerden
+32 497 69 93 70
Student Work in Belgium: Results from the First Wave of a Quantitative Survey
Frans Steenhoudt
