Influence of part-time employment on grade point average and academic outcomes of university students

Abstract

This study examined how part-time employment might influence students’ GPAs. The target sample composed 150 undergraduates from three top-ranked public-sector universities offering both arts and science streams. This has been essentially a quantitative analysis involving the variables of the students’ GPAs, daily working hours, type of part-time employment, and job workload. Results show that, on average and in general, the influence that part-time employment imparts to GPA is positive; most respondents maintained their GPAs above 2.6. For quite a few who were employed, however, it resulted into more time taken to complete degrees when compared with those not having any employment. Respondents rated their jobs highly but indicated dissatisfaction with pay levels. The ability to work on weekends was put under the general heading of flexible working hours as a major advantage. Respondents felt that part-time employment would make them more attractive to employers in the future and increase employment opportunities. In summary, these findings advocate that part-time employment is useful to university students since it enables them to gain work experience related directly or indirectly through transferable skills and avenues for better positions when entering the labor market.