Marcos Ruiz Rojas | July 8, 2024

The UCLA Labor Summer Research Program released a new study, “Remapping Realities: Navigating School and Work Commitments, Financial Pressures, and Well-Being” on June 27. This timely report sheds light on the challenges faced by college students as they balance the demands of work and school.

The study revealed that more than half of college students work in low-wage jobs to afford tuition and living expenses. Rising inflation, limited financial support, and the lingering effects of COVID-19 intensified these struggles, making it increasingly difficult for students to manage their responsibilities. The study was based on 151 surveys and 30 interviews conducted in July and August 2022.

This 2022 report expanded on previous research about the experiences of workers and learners navigating work, school and post-pandemic life as they adjusted to the “new normal.” 

“As a professor, it’s powerful to guide students through their research journey, demystifying the process and supporting their learning of research methods. Witnessing them apply these skills to real-world issues and develop recommendations based on their findings and personal experiences is truly impactful,” said Saba Waheed, labor studies lecturer and UCLA Labor Center Director.

Student researcher, Qianyi Loo, reflected on their experience: “Working on this research gave me the opportunity to uplift the experiences of students similar to myself who relied on working wages for living expenses and tuition. Through my research, I was able to connect with other student workers and document struggles they faced in pursuit of higher education. I used research findings to advocate for remote and hybrid learning options, increase undergraduate research opportunities and propose innovative ways to support student workers.”

Among other recommendations, report authors outlined the following for three target audiences: 

• Student Level
  • Communicate with your counselors, faculty, and peers for information.
  • Share your story.
• Faculty/Administration Level
  • Make improvements to hybrid and asynchronous learning environments.
  • Implement working-learner training for faculty to better support working learners, and create educational workshops for workers and learners. 
• Educational Policymaker Level
  • Make mental health services accessible/affordable for all students.
  • Expand eligibility for FAFSA recipients.
  • Increase the pay scale for all on-campus jobs, and ensure that there are more jobs related to worker and learner majors and career fields.

Each summer, UCLA Labor Studies offers the Labor Summer Research Program (LSRP), a six-week intensive course where students collaboratively research the current social, economic and political contexts affecting workers and students who attend college in Los Angeles County while also working. 

The LSRP 2024 cohort is continuing to expand the body of studies on young workers, first-generation and working-class students, career and workforce development and student resources and needs.

Previous cohorts have released the following studies: 

• 2021 – Back to the “New Normal”: Workers and Learners Navigate Campus and Workplace Reopening
• 2020 – Earners and Learners during a global pandemic and social uprising
• 2019 – Earners and Learners in Los Angeles County
• 2017 – Ride Sharing or Ride Stealing? Working Gig Economy in Los Angeles
• 2014 – Working L.A.: Young Workers in Global Los Angeles

UCLA Labor Studies is the first major of its kind at the University of California. Renowned for its commitment to engaged student learning in community worker settings, rigorous hands-on research and courses that explore some of the most pressing labor and social justice issues, the program became a major in 2019 after being established as a minor in 2014.