Term-time employment and the long transition to the labor market

Increasing educational participation rates in many countries have led to a delayed transition to full-time employment for young adults. As a result, many young people have their first exposure to paid work while they are studying full-time. Ireland is an interesting case-study in this respect as the majority of young people now attend higher education. This chapter draws on rich Growing Up in Ireland data to look at the profile of those engaging in term-time employment from 13 to 20 years of age. This profile is found to change over the life course, with more disadvantaged groups engaging in employment at a young age but fewer background differences found later in secondary or higher education. Patterns of part-time employment reflect broader labor market conditions, with rates among secondary students declining in the recession and increasing with economic recovery. The costs associated with higher education participation and the nature of supports available to students play an important role in shaping participation. Student employment rates have increased in the past decade as accommodation costs have increased. High costs and the failure of State grants to keep pace with living standards have meant that financial support from parents and part-time employment are the main ways of financing higher education participation. The chapter points to the importance of examining part-time employment from both a life-course and an institutional perspective.