The impacts of part-time jobs on University students

1.Introduction.
Part-time work have been prevalent in major city centers in recent days. The majority of
part-time job workers are university students. Previous studies have typically viewed
student employment as a homogeneous factor when analyzing its effects on academic
performance and social involvement among students (Wang & Kong, 2010). Students
have continued to work part-time during non-academic hours from 2000 until the
present day. Students are seen as a valuable workforce because of their strong health,
knowledge, and practical skills, which allow them to contribute to several sectors and
earn extra cash to fund their studies. This provides an excellent opportunity for pupils to
acquire practical experience, enhance their social skills and understanding, and
accumulate useful experiences that would be impossible to attain if they avoided
participation while at home. Based on a survey of young individuals in England, 27% of
adolescent students engage in employment while pursuing their studies (Rockika, 2017).

Part-time work experience showcases professional knowledge and provides a

competitive edge over other candidates in job searches. Engaging in a part-time
employment offers numerous advantages. Despite some limitations, if you can
overcome them, you will be able to secure a lucrative profession in the future. Some
argue that university students should not take part-time jobs as it may lead to fatigue
and lack of leisure time. Having a part-time job can provide students with practical
experience and create lasting memories during their time as students. Exploring and
experimenting with many types of employment leads to finding a rewarding work.
Participants can attempt to get expertise in a range of vocations, starting with simple
tasks and progressing to more challenging ones, due to the unpredictable nature of
part-time work. Nevertheless, certain part-time employees manage to secure steady
employment prior to graduation.
Several studies primarily examine the job experiences of junior and senior high school
students, which have garnered attention in both research and media. The term "work-
study" is commonly associated with university students in industrialized countries like
the US, UK, and Singapore. The main focus is on clarifying the practical aspects of the
work-study dynamic among university students. Furthermore, a crucial factor affecting
students' achievements is their status as individuals involved in part-time work. This
study found that there are two primary motivations for students to take on part-time
jobs: financial gain and gaining experience.

2.Literature Review
2.1 Part-time job
Part-time occupations are recognized as a factor that impacts students' academic
performance. This article analyzes the students enrolled in the English Department at
Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages – Information Technology. An
investigation is conducted on the impact of employment on students' academic
performance. Students can enhance their job prospects, earn recognition, and build
their reputation by acquiring substantial work experience through engaging in
occasional employment. Student employment has a significant positive impact on labor
market outcomes, especially when it is related to the student's field of study. This
influence is seen in a reduced probability of facing unemployment, a shorter time spent
searching for a job, and achieving higher income. An emerging trend is the growing
number of students taking up part-time jobs while studying. Higher education students
choose part-time jobs for economical reasons and to gain experiential learning.
Supporters of work-study emphasize its ability to enhance practical abilities in
professional environments, while critics suggest it may interfere with the time needed
for academic activities (Ali, 2017). One crucial factor is effectively balancing time
between work obligations and academic duties. This research has identified two primary
motivations for individuals to work part-time. This study aims to examine the influence
of part-time job on the academic performance of students. Ensuring universal success
for all work-study students is quite improbable.

2.2 Time-management factors

Dipboye (2014) identified that the primary cause of the stress attitude in students is
their ineffective time management. To prevent adverse outcomes linked to this
transaction, precise time management is crucial. Effective time management is crucial
for students juggling work and study responsibilities. Poor time management is the main
cause of potential negative outcomes. Students must effectively manage and supervise
their time, making sure to allocate allocated periods for work, academic endeavors, and
essential rest intervals. Put simply, students in work-study programs require a balanced
schedule. Dipboye (2014) stated that the primary cause of the stress attitude in students
is their failure to efficiently manage their time. Typically, a student who does not have a
part-time work often feels they do not have the time to accomplish all their
commitments completely. When facing obstacles, it is essential to gather feedback from
a variety of perspectives, including those of the students, to tackle these issues. Efficient
time management is crucial to prevent adverse outcomes related to this transaction. In
2014, Mussie T. Tessema and colleagues conducted a study titled "A case of a midsized
public university," published in the journal Public Administration. The study compared
students who were employed with those who were not working. A total of 5223
students took part as respondents in the data gathering process, which focused on
institutional planning, assessment, and research. One possible inference from this
research is that the concept of job analysis can have both positive and negative impacts.
An factor, such as time management, is responsible for it. Moreover, it leads to two
problems: missing a day of work and discontinuing education. Time management is a
crucial aspect of it. Poor time management can result in serious outcomes including
missing work, dropping out of school, and negatively affecting one's career path or job.

2.3 The benefits and drawbacks of part-time jobs

Participating in part-time work is a crucial aspect of the complete student experience. A
research by Tengiz Verulava and Revaz Jorbenadze found that an increasing number of
students are opting to work part-time, often for around 18 hours per week. Most
students surveyed stated that their main reason for seeking employment was to
increase household income and cover expenses. Most students choose to work in
industries such as retail and food services that are not connected to their desired
careers. Therefore, these positions do not need the development of specific abilities in
college nor offer unique experiences that improve their job prospects after graduation.
Many students struggle to reconcile their part-time jobs with their academic duties,
encountering various hurdles from their work and studies. Many non-instructional
activities hinder pupils from fully participating in the educational process. Sleep
deprivation, frequently caused by working night shifts, is a major obstacle for many
individuals, leading to irritability, reduced focus, headaches, and subsequent health
problems that negatively impact learning. Their busy schedules also impede their
capacity to maintain close relationships with family and friends, consistent with previous
research results.
Consistent with previous research, students who work part-time show potential for
improved academic performance, demonstrating increased academic engagement and
accomplishments. However, focusing on stress management is a critical part that
requires careful attention. They reduce obstacles by maintaining a healthy physique.
The length of time a student commits to a job is crucial for those working part-time.
Essentially, they need a certain amount of time devoted to their profession to
accomplish the aim of their part-time commitment. This approach is essential for
students to achieve a particular recognition as part-time worker-students, strongly
linked to their academic pursuits. Therefore, being a student engaged in part-time work
is closely related to academic learning activities. This commitment could provide the
opportunity to concentrate on academic endeavors, leading to an improvement in
academic achievement over time. This study employed the qualitative descriptive
research method, which was deemed suitable for the research design.

3. Methodology
This study is classified as qualitative research, where the data is described in detail. The
study use qualitative research as its design to allow for in-depth explanation of the
collected data. The explanation will rely on derived facts. The statistics show a
correlation between time management and academic achievement among work-study
students. Exploring data through quantitative research is challenging, leading to the
avoidance of this approach in the design process. The data collected from the online
questionnaire are systematically, methodically, and rigorously analyzed. The research
utilizes qualitative methodology in the form of a case study. A case study is a strategy
used to gather in-depth information about a specific program, activity, event, group, or
individual. The data are processed using specific techniques and predetermined periods.

The questionnaire was distributed to collect their feedback. Both students with part-
time employment and those without part-time work were chosen. The work-study
students served as the sample for this investigation. Primarily, a student's main task is to
study, although some students learn while also working. They are regarded as the
sample for this study.
The survey tool was a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed
by integrating information from a literature review and the unique characteristics of
students at Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages – Information Technology.
The survey was conducted using Google Form. The questionnaire had closed-ended
questions. Responders can choose from 5 options: strongly agree, agree, neutral,
disagree, and strongly disagree. The questionnaire was purposely conducted to gather
superficial information on the respondents. Once the questionnaire was created,
student information was gathered using a suitable sampling method.

4. Data analysis and result.

Table 1.

n=42 %

Gender

female 18 42%

male 24 58%

Age

18-19 3 7%
 20-21 29 69%

22-23 10 24%

Working hours per week

10 10 24%

20 7 17%

30 14 33%

40 6 15%

50 5 11%

Forty-two students completed and submitted questionnaires. The average age of male
responses is 19, while for females it is 20, with an age range of 18 to 23 years.
The working hours ranged from 10 to 50 hours each week. Most students (14%) were
employed part-time, working approximately 30 hours per week.

Table 2:Where are students working?

Retail % Food and drink %

Supermarket 8% Bar/pub 18%

Shop 22% Restaurant 15%

Retail other 8% Fast food 29%

Total 38% Total 52%

Table 3. Economic factors effect on students' decisions to do a part-time job (n= 42)
Response Frequency Percent
Yes 28 67%
 No 14 33%
Total 42 100%

Researchers analyzed the data and found that 33% of respondents were not employed
part-time due to economic reasons, while 67% were influenced by economic issues to
have part-time jobs. Economic variables have a greater influence on students' decisions
to work part-time.

Table 4. The impact on students' education of part-time jobs (n= 42)

Response Frequency Percent
Yes 35 83%
No 7 17%
Total 42 100%

The research analyzed the data and found that 83% of respondents had fallen behind in
their studies due to their part-time occupations, whereas 17% of students did not have
this problem. It shows that the majority of respondents did not fall behind in their
academics due to their part-time jobs.

Table 5. The percentage of students who believe that their part-time job will help
them obtain employment after completing their studies (n=42).

Response Frequency Percent

Yes 16 28%
No 26 62%
Total 42 100%

After analyzing the data, researchers found that 62% of students do not believe their
part-time employment will assist them in securing a job after finishing their studies,
while 28% of respondents believe that their part-time jobs will aid them in finding
employment after completing their education. The majority of respondents agreed that
their part-time job would assist them in finding jobs after finishing their studies.

The skills of part-time student workers align with their incentive to seek employment for
financial gain or experience, rather than pursuing alternative methods. Nevertheless,
there is no alternative method to achieve the goals or objectives they have as a part-
time worker student. Simply said, it can be accomplished by being a student who works
part-time.

Table 6. Questionnaire result about comprehension of material in college (n=42).

Response Frequency Percent

Agree 18 43%
Neutral 17 40%
Disagree 7 17%
Total 42 100%

17 students, which accounts for 43% of the total, believe they can master the content
effectively. Additionally, 7 students (17%) expressed disagreement regarding their ability
to comprehend the material well. 17 students, which accounts for 40% of the total,
want to have a neutral answer. Most students have a neutral opinion regarding the
effectiveness of mastering the material. Part-time student success in academics through
strong comprehension is attributed to effective time management.

Table 7. Questionnaire result about the flexibility of time (n=42)

Response Frequency Percent
Agree 22 53%
Neutral 14 33%
Disagree 6 14%
Total 42 100%

22 students, accounting for 53% of the total, agreed with the statement on the flexibility
of work hours. Additionally, 6 students (14%) disagreed that balancing work and school
is easy due to the flexible nature of time. 14 students, which accounts for 33% of the
total, want to have a neutral answer. Most students have flexible schedules for jobs.
Time is closely associated with the duration or length required for tasks to be
completed. Effective time management is crucial for the success of a student who is also
working part-time.

Table 8. Questionnaire result about working on the assignment (n=42).

Response Frequency Percent
Agree 26 62%
Neutral 11 26%
Disagree 5 12%
 Total 42 100%

26 out of 42 students (62%) said that the assignment is well done despite being part-
time worker students. 11 pupils, which accounts for 26% of the total, want to have a
neutral answer. Conversely, 5 students, accounting for 12% of the total, expressed
disagreement with the assertion. Most students tend to have neutral or agreeable
responses when it comes to balancing work and study time. Effective time and task
management results in continued progress. The institution must allocate responsibilities
to part-time student workers. By declining it, they acquire fresh experience and
expertise.
One can determine how to gain more benefits by being a part-time student worker.
They aim to capitalize on this opportunity to pursue their desires, acquire other
experiences, and expand their knowledge. Being a part-time worker is a personal choice
or request, although they can still leverage it to enhance their skills and capabilities.
Those talents and abilities may only be acquired by being a part-time student worker.
Additionally, having a part-time job enhances the skills of part-time workers in both
employment and school. The part-time worker can optimize the resources and
knowledge they acquire at their workplace while studying. The pupils aim to prioritize
and fully concentrate on the college curriculum as indicated in the previous response.
There are two ways to focus one's attention, such as completely focusing either at work
or college.

Table 9. Questionnaire result about having autonomous learning to catch up the material
(n=42).
Response Frequency Percent
Agree 10 24%
Neutral 19 45%
Disagree 13 31%
Total 42 100%

10 students, which is 24% of the total, believe that they make efforts to meet
expectations. 19 students, accounting for 45%, prefer a neutral response, while 13
students, representing 31%, disagree. Most students have a neutral stance on exerting
efforts to get the intended outcome.
It can be inferred that they also aim to cover the material they missed. They have
demonstrated a strong motivation to improve their academic achievement through
various means. They attempt to use internet connection as the most convenient method
to achieve optimal outcomes or understanding. They engage in talks with their friends
to clarify any confusion over the material. Similarly, the subject also applies to how they
handle their duties when they are occupied. Both sets of data indicate that part-time
student workers employ various methods to obtain high academic achievement,
consistent with the earlier assumption. The student can address time conflicts between
job and studying by adjusting their study schedule to accommodate work hours or
negotiating with their employer. Both of those responses indicate a desire to achieve a
balance between employment and study. During the procedure, there is a need for part-
time student workers. The demand originates from both their workplace and
educational institution.

Table 10. Questionnaire result about the ability to prioritize learning process (n=42).
Response Frequency Percent
Agree 29 69%
Neutral 9 21%
Disagree 4 10%
Total 42 100%

29 out of 42 students (69%) believe that a student who works part-time can still
prioritize their learning. 9 students, which accounts for 21% of the total, prefer to
provide a neutral response. Conversely, 4 students expressed disagreement with the
statement. Most students prioritize the learning process.The skills of part-time student
workers align with their incentive to work part-time due to financial needs or a desire
for experience, rather than pursuing alternative methods. Nevertheless, there is no
alternative method to achieve the goals or objectives they have as a part-time student
worker. It can be accomplished solely by being a student who works part-time. Being a
part-time worker student can enhance their abilities or skills, as shown in the previous
response. It can also improve knowledge and experience. Furthermore, it becomes the
sole means to increase one's income. The questionnaire findings support the notion that
individuals are proficient at comprehending the topic.Being a student who works part-
time does not preclude them from making improvement in their academic achievement.
Conversely, a question is also asked regarding students who are not part-time workers.
Based on their experience as a part-time worker student, they believe that students
without part-time jobs should maximize their time for academic success.

5. Discussion & Conclusion.

5.1 Discussion.
The study's findings indicated that high-achieving students who work part-time reported
being satisfied with their academic performance each semester. Furthermore, students
reported an increase in their GPA every semester after becoming part-time worker
students. The questionnaire comprises 32 questions categorized under Studying,
Working, Ability, and Grade Point Average. Furthermore, they can effectively balance
their time between work and school and complete tasks promptly. Students believe that
it is preferable to refrain from being a part-time worker while studying due to challenges
in time management and the inability to focus on tasks. They mentioned that being a
part-time worker student is complex since they struggle to prioritize studying due to
work demands, resulting in poor time management. Furthermore, it is impossible to
work on the duties.
The second category pertains to employment, where 22 students indicated that the
responsibilities in the workplace are being carried out effectively. They are often
overwhelmed with work obligations from their workplace, leading to busyness. Work
tasks are typically light due to the flexible schedule and short duration of 6 hours each
day, allowing for effective management of demands and busy periods in the workplace.
Effective time management is the key to success in fulfilling work duties. By organizing
tasks and allocating time efficiently, one may prevent time conflicts that may result in
failure to complete work responsibilities. However, pupils mentioned facing numerous
challenges at their workplace due to difficulties in managing their responsibilities. The
issue arises due to numerous demands from the workplace, extended work hours, and a
lack of proper scheduling to effectively manage time for work responsibilities.
Part-time work seems to be a crucial component of the complete student experience.
Based on the poll, over 50% of participants hold a part-time job, with an average of 15-
18 hours worked per week by students. The poll indicates that students are working
more than the recommended amount. It is crucial to teach students time management
skills to effectively balance their academic responsibilities and part-time employment.
The poll found that the majority of students stated that the primary motivation for
seeking job was the financial need to generate more revenue to support their family and
cover expenditures. These results align with those documented by other researchers.
They neglect issues like enhancing professional education and soft-skills. These jobs do
not necessitate the specialized skills acquired by university students and do not provide
them with valuable experience to enhance their employability post-graduation. The
discrepancy between the study programs and the work students accomplished was in
line with findings from other studies.

The study identified numerous good and negative consequences of part-time

employment that influenced students' academic performance. The research revealed
that most respondents believed that their current occupations will facilitate their job
search upon completing their education. Research on factors influencing pupils'
academic progress in the western regions has been extensive. The study's sample
consisted of university students who worked part-time while pursuing their studies. The
study will help researchers generate strategies to mitigate the impact of part-time jobs
on students' academic performance. The study will offer insights for academics seeking
to support students engaged in part-time work to alleviate their financial strain.
In conclusion, students emphasized the importance of being a part-time working
student to enhance their experience beyond what college offers. Additionally, for those
who need to work part-time for financial reasons, being a part-time student is essential
for academic success and meeting daily needs. Unique experiences cannot be acquired
solely through regular college attendance. Being a part-time worker student requires
efficient time management to reconcile employment and study commitments. Part-time
student workers might organize their schedules to balance their academic studies and
work responsibilities. Being a part-time worker student can have contrasting effects on
academic achievement, with both negative and positive influences. Being a part-time
worker as a student might be seen as a negative influence if it leads to a decrease in the
grade point average. Conversely, being a part-time worker as a student might be
considered a beneficial effect if it leads to higher results.
Studies indicate that most students are heavily engaged in part-time job, facing
challenges in balancing work and academics. Excessive non-teaching activities disrupt
pupils from participating in the learning process. The majority of participants are
employed in night shifts, impacting their sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation has led to
significant health issues such as irritability, reduced concentration, and headaches, all of
which adversely affect the learning process. Due to their hectic schedule, they are
unable to cultivate close relationships with friends and family. The results align with
findings from other studies. Our research found that part-time job had a considerable
negative impact on the emotional and physical health of students. Increasing the
number of hours worked raises the likelihood of a student seeing a negative impact on
academic achievement.
It is important to allocate time wisely for working on assignments as they reflect key
aspects of the academic process that need to be completed. Accurate time management
is crucial for part-time student workers to achieve improved academic achievement.
Engaging in the task is closely linked to the academic activities. The task essentially helps
pupils broaden their understanding of specific material. Furthermore, as part-time
worker students, individuals must fully commit their time to both employment and
school. Part-time student workers lack the time for leisure activities that full-time
students typically enjoy. Part-time student workers must do more effort to achieve a
balance between their employment and school schedules. Being a part-time job can be
a significant challenge for students trying to balance work and education
simultaneously. They must work part-time as students due to financial constraints and
to gain more experience. Nevertheless, individuals can still attain a high GPA and even
improve it each semester. In other words, being a part-time job can enhance a student's
abilities, resulting in improved academic performance for those who take full use of the
opportunity.

5.2 Conclusion.
The study aims to examine the influence of part-time job on students' academic
performance. The study employed a quantitative methodology to analyze the data. The
study's findings indicate that being a part-worker-student does not impact pupils'
academic performance. Nevertheless, some students have varying perspectives. Being
part-time worker students is often a necessity rather than a choice. Being a part-time
employment as a student is often the only option to generate money and address
financial difficulties. Furthermore, the study's findings suggest that other students are
motivated to pursue part-time jobs in order to gain additional experience. Being a part-
time worker as a student does not necessarily result in poor academic performance; in
fact, they can still earn good or even improved academic results each semester. The
experience gained as a part-time worker student in a genuine job environment is highly
valuable.
Universities must establish a robust employment strategy and conduct flexible,
accessible, and targeted support activities to help students achieve their educational
and career objectives. It is advised to employ multiple approaches to assist students in
optimizing their study and part-time work organization. Training in time management
skills is required to enable this. Raising awareness about mental and physical health
issues could also be provided to students to improve their experience. The part-time
student has more experience than full-time students without part-time jobs. Students
aim to labor for the shortest amount of time possible while still achieving their goals of
earning revenue and gaining experience. Effective time management is crucial for
students to achieve improved academic outcomes.

Abstract
This study examined the impact of part-time employment on the academic performance of
university students. For the objective of this study, a sample of 150 students from three well-
regarded public sector universities was analysed. The research sample consisted of students from
both the arts and scientific majors. The study employed a quantitative methodology to examine
the impact of part-time employment on the academic performance of university students. The
variables employed to assess the perceived impact of part-time employment on the academic
performance of university students encompassed students' grade point average (GPA), daily
working hours, nature of the part-time job, and job workload. The study's findings indicate that
part-time employment has a beneficial impact on students' GPA, as it exceeded 2.6. In certain
instances, it has been observed that students who engage in part-time employment experience a
longer duration in completing their degree compared to their counterparts. Furthermore, the
participants expressed contentment with their employment, although expressed dissatisfaction
with their remuneration. The majority of students endorsed the autonomy afforded by their job.
Students held the belief that their part-time job would facilitate their job search and they aspired
to secure such a position in the future. The students in question possess adaptable work schedules
and have even engaged in weekend employment. They held the belief that securing a part-time
job would facilitate their entry into the labour market and enhance their chances of securing
more advantageous roles in the future. Hence, the acquisition of a part-time work proves to be
advantageous for university students.