Workload
Students were asked to report information regarding their workload. This includes work from both paid/unpaid jobs, academic work, as well as time spent caregiving for any family members.
As a reminder, students had the option to select “Prefer not to answer” for all questions, and these responses were set as missing values. In addition, 186 (8.8%) students did not finish the survey. The n reporting refers to the total number of non-missing responses, while the percent reporting reflects the percent of non-missing responses.
Weekly Paid Work Hours
Survey Question: Estimate the number of hours you work in a PAID job (e.g. server at a restaurant, office assistant, etc.) or paid internship (e.g. training, shadowing, or practicum) per week.
Summary: Students reported a wide range of paid work hours per week with an average of 14.67 hours (denoted by the dotted line) and a median of 13. The majority of students worked either part-time or not at all. Only 198 (10.3%) students were considered to be working full-time (40 or more hours per week).
Impact of COVID
Survey Question: Have the hours you work in a PAID job or internship changed due to COVID-19?
Summary: A total of 536 (28.9%) students reported not working prior to COVID, while 504 (27.2%) reported that their hours have not changed due to COVID. There were 388 (21.0%) students that had their hours decreased, 299 (16.1%) that no longer had a job/internship, and 125 (6.7%) that had their hours increased.
Unpaid Work Hours
Survey Question: Estimate the number of hours you work in an UNPAID internship (e.g. training, shadowing, practicum, and/or volunteer, etc.) per week. Do not combine with answers above.
Summary: The average number of unpaid work hours was 2.8 (denoted by the dotted line) and the median was 0. A total of 1387 (76.8%) students did not work at an unpaid job/internship, while 212 (11.7%) students reported working 10 or more unpaid hours every week.
Unpaid Caregiving Hours
Survey Question: Estimate the number of hours you spend each week on UNPAID family obligations (e.g. taking care of younger siblings, preparing family meals, running errands for the family, etc.) per week.
Summary: A total of 1449 (77.1%) students spent time each week caring for family members with an average of 20.33 hours (denoted by the dotted line) and a median of 10. There were 431 (22.9%) students that reported spending zero hours per week on family obligations, while 351 (18.7%) reported spending 40 or more hours each week.
Academic Workload
Survey Question: How many units are you currently taking?
Additional Notes: The hours of academic work per week were estimated by assuming 3 hours of work per unit.
Summary: The average number of academic hours worked per week was 38.6 hours (denoted by the dotted line), while the median was 39. A total of 969 (46.4%) students spent 40 or more hours per week on academic work.
Non-Academic Workload
Survey Question: This variable was derived by taking the sum of students’ paid work hours, unpaid work hours, and caregiving hours.
Additional Notes: Non-academic workload was calculated only for students who reported their paid work hours, unpaid work hours, and caregiving hours.
Summary: The average total number of hours worked per week in non-academic matters was 36.72 hours (denoted by the dotted line), while the median was 30 hours. A total of 708 (40.4%) students spent 40 or more hours per week on non-academic work.
Total Workload
Survey Question: This variable was derived by taking the sum of students’ paid work hours, unpaid work hours, caregiving hours, and hours spent from academic activities (assuming 3 hours per unit taken).
Additional Notes: Total workload was calculated only for students who reported their paid work hours, unpaid work hours, caregiving hours, and units.
Summary: The average number of total hours worked per week was 75.47 hours (denoted by the dotted line), while the median was 70 hours. A total of 1597 (91.6%) students spent 40 or more hours per week on academic and non-academic work, while 635 (36.4%) spent 80 or more hours.
