Student Activity in the Labour Market

Abstrakt

This article focuses on student employment during higher education and explains why many students decide to work while studying. The topic is important because university studies are no longer only about gaining academic knowledge and completing a degree programme. For many young people, this period is also a time to earn money, gain first work experience, and become more independent in everyday life. Student employment is also linked to changes in the labour market, where employers increasingly value practical skills and previous experience. The article highlights that working during one’s studies can bring both benefits and challenges. On the one hand, employment may support the development of useful competences such as responsibility, communication skills, and time management. On the other hand, combining work with academic duties may create difficulties related to limited time, tiredness, and stress. The second part of the article presents the results of the author’s own research. The study was carried out using an online survey conducted between 2 and 16 May 2025. A total of 372 students from universities in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship (including Rzeszów) participated in the research. The survey explored students’ employment during their current studies, their motivations for taking up paid work, and their opinions on how working may influence academic life. In addition, the questionnaire included questions about students’ ability to balance studying with professional duties, as well as the reasons why some students decide not to work during higher education.