Part-Time Employment and Participation in Higher Education

Abstract

This article examines whether the recent growth in part-time employment has had any ramifications for decisions about participation in higher education. Using data drawn from four waves of the Australian Longitudinal Survey, binary logit models of both the decision (by Year 12 students) to participate in higher education and the decision to remain in higher education beyond the first year of study are estimated. The results indicate that part-time employment while studying at university (or similar level institutions) has not been a factor critical to continuing studies. Employment while at secondary school, however, is found to reduce the likelihood of continuing education for girls but not for boys. It is argued that this result may reflect either a greater preference for current income or lower rates of return to education for girls.