青瓜视频

Skip to main content

Latest news

More news stories from the School of Environment, Education and Development

Download Media Kit
Download
22
May
2025
|
15:01
Europe/London

New research urges education sector, employers, and unions to improve conditions for working students

The 青瓜视频楲-earning: Rethinking Young Women's Working Lives青瓜视频 project has unveiled new findings through a series of interim research briefings titled 青瓜视频楨arning While Learning: student employment青瓜视频.

This three-year national study explores young women青瓜视频檚 earliest experiences of work青瓜视频攊ncluding paid employment during education青瓜视频攁nd how these shape inequalities in working life over time. 

The project is part of the Economic and Social Research Council青瓜视频檚 initiative, the research team is based at the University of Leeds, The University of Manchester, and City St George青瓜视频檚, University of London.

The draw on national datasets and focus group interviews with 83 young women aged 14青瓜视频23 from schools, Further Education (FE) colleges, sixth forms, and universities across England. The research examines how young women navigate the challenges of part-time employment alongside their education, particularly in a context of rising living costs and growing financial pressure.

To support change across key sectors, the research team has produced tailored for Education, Employers and Industry, and Trade Unions. Each presents key findings alongside sector-specific recommendations. 

Working part-time can bring many benefits for young people combining study and work青瓜视频攅specially when we think about employability agendas in education, but they also present challenges. Our research shows that students are not only poorly paid, but often feel unsafe and powerless in the workplace. We urge educational institutions to think about engaging employers and unions to work to improve the conditions of student work and support young people to engage in meaningful, decent and fair work that enhances study experiences. 

Kirsty Finn, Senior Lecturer in Education, Manchester Institute of Education at The University of Manchester

The findings reveal that young women are 50% more likely than their male peers to work while studying, and therefore disproportionately affected by the challenges of low pay, unsafe environments, and a lack of workplace rights. The research calls on educators not to discourage student work, but to help students understand and assert their rights, and to work collaboratively with employers and unions to ensure fairer conditions.

 

Rather than ban students from working, we urge educational institutions, employers and unions to work together to improve the conditions of student work and support young people to engage in meaningful, decent and fair work.

Kim Allen, Professor in Sociology of Youth and Culture, University of Leeds

Webinar to launch the briefings

To mark the launch of the briefings, a webinar will be held on Tuesday, 3 June from 12pm to 12.45pm. .  

 

More about the L-earning project 

To find out more about the study and the team, visit the  and follow on social media: |  |  

Share this page