FEATURES OF STUDENT EMPLOYMENT IN THE HUNGARIANROMANIAN CROSS BORDER AREA - Key research findings on student work and academic impact

Oct 15, 2026

Research examines student employment as a key factor in university students’ lives, with a focus on the Hungarian-Romanian border region. Using the PERSIST 2019 database (N=2199), the study compares working students across demographic, social, and institutional backgrounds in higher education institutions in eastern Hungary and neighboring areas. Results identify institutional differences in employment frequency and work-study fit, with Romanian students showing more study-related work. Paid work does not hinder academic performance or institutional relationship-building; it can positively influence students’ university careers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Trends in student employment

Work during studies and labor market involvement

Demographic, social and institutional determinants

Consequences for performance, engagement and dropout

FEATURES OF STUDENT EMPLOYMENT IN THE HUNGARIANROMANIAN CROSS BORDER AREA1 Zsófia KOCSIS Abstract: The aim of the research is to examine student employment, which plays an important role in the lives of university students. According to previous research results, paid work is characterized by an increasing tendency, with occasional and holiday work being characteristic of students, as well as regular work during the semester too. Current research focuses on the characteristics of gainful employment in the Hungarian-Romanian border region. The database PERSIST 2019 (N = 2199) was used, the research took place in higher education institutions in the eastern region of Hungary and in higher education institutions bordering the country. We investigate the differences between the demographic, social and institutional backgrounds of working students. We also analyze the relationships between effectiveness, engagement and student employment. According to our results there are differences between the institutions both in the frequency of employment and in the horizontal fit of work. Hungarian students take up work more often than Romanian students, but study-related work is more typical for Romanian students. However, paid work does not hinder the academic performance of the students and the building of relationships within the institution, it even has a positive impact on the students' university career . Key words: student employment, part-time job, dropout, commitment, Hungary, Romania 1. Trends in student employment A few decades ago, the presence on the labor market was mainly characterized by young people leaving the education system and taking up work at the age of 16-18. Nowadays, work during studies plays an increasingly important role in the lives of young people, and the combination of studies and work is characterized by a growing trend. Secondary school and university students are becoming more actively involved in labor market processes (Loughlin & Barling, 1998 ; Perna 2010; Riggert et. al, 2006 ; Singh 1998) . Students have more and more opportunities in the world of work, as flexible working hours, part-time employment, work in the physical sector and in the service sector enable them to work alongside their studies (Broadbridge & Swanson, 2005) . Previous international and national results have confirmed that the demographic, social and institutional characteristics of students are related to the frequency, motivation and type of work (Kovács et al., 2019; Masevičiūtė et al., 2018; Pusztai & Kocsis, 2019, Saveanu & Ştefănescu, 2019) . A general finding is that when the educational level of parents declines, students are more likely to work during their studies and students from disadvantaged socio-cultural backgrounds are more likely to work (Darmody & Smyth, 2008; Flowers, 2010; Moreau & Leathwood, 2006 ; Warren et al., 2000) . Some research points out that paid work increases social inequalities and social marginalization is even more threatening when students work in occupations that require unskilled work and low pay (Richardson, Evans & Gbadamosi, 2009) . The social situation of students influences their motivation to accept a job. Students who come from amore qualified and financially better-off family are all the more likely to be motivated by professional ambitions rather than forced labor (Bocsi et al., 2018; Masevičiūtė et al., 2018) . The decision to take 1 This paper was presented at the TDID Doctoral Students’ Conference, 14-16 May 2020. up employment, the horizontal fit between work and study, has a considerable influence on the performance and commitment of students to study (Kocsis & Pusztai, 2020) . Student employment can have both negative and positive consequences. On the one hand, paid work can increase the chances of dropping out of university by reducing the time spent on studying and preventing students from becoming embedded in the university culture (Curtis & Shani 2002 ;

FAQs

What does the research aim to investigate about student employment in the Hungarian-Romanian border area?

It examines the characteristics of gainful employment for university students in the Hungarian-Romanian border region and how it relates to student demographics, social background, institutional context, and study outcomes.

How was the data collected for the study?

The study used the PERSIST 2019 database with N=2199 and analyzed students in higher education institutions in eastern Hungary and institutions bordering the country.

Does paid work affect students’ academic performance and engagement negatively?

The findings indicate that paid work does not hinder academic performance or building relationships within the institution, and it can have a positive impact on students’ university careers.

Oct 15, 2026

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