Working on a dream: educational returns from off-campus paid work

Based on a a nationally representative sample of 25,950 Australian students, this paper investigates participation in off-campus paid work. During the 1990s, this phenomenon became an increasingly interesting and significant narrative in Australian higher education, with implications for institutions, industries, individuals and the economy as a whole. In 2011, as this briefing shows, undertaking off-campus paid work is an intrinsic and rewarding part of undergraduate life. Key findings include: 66 per cent of first-year students and 73 per cent of later-year students participate in off-campus paid work – figures relatively stable over the last four years. Most first years work between 6 and 20 hours, while later years tend to work between 11 and 15 hours. Participation in work is higher for those that do not receive government of university financial support, and for students living with parents, or from metropolitan or from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Modest participation in paid work (between 1 and 10 hours) tends to improve academic engagement and performance, a host of more general skills, and graduate transitions into employment. Paid work links with increased dropout intentions if it is not countered with effective institutional recognition and support. Universities need to find sustainable ways of capturing the skills students develop through off-campus paid work – students report that most paid work has nothing or very little link with their studies. Image: Ti.mo / flick