Summary

There were 157,149 young New Zealand domestic students (under 25 years of age) enrolled in a formal qualification at a tertiary provider in 2019. Most students (more than 80%) studied in March–June and August–October. For every month in these two periods, around 50% of all students, 48% of full-time students and 57% of part-time students worked.

The monthly work intensity distribution of young students in 2019 shows:

• Part-time students were more likely to work and more likely to work at higher intensity than full-time students.
• Students who studied at degree and postgraduate levels were more likely to work but more likely to work at lower intensity than those who studied at levels below degree level.
• Female students at degree and postgraduate levels were more likely to work than male students.
• European students were the most likely to combine work with their studies, particularly at levels below degree level.
• At degree and postgraduate levels, Asian students were the least likely to combine work with their studies.
• At below degree level, Māori and Pacific peoples were the least likely to combine work with their studies.

The course completion rate of students shows:

• For full-time students, higher work intensity was initially associated with higher course completion rates, but when the work intensity reached the high level (approximately just over 20 hours per week on the minimum wage in 2019), the course completion rate declined. This pattern appeared to be the same for different levels of study, gender, and ethnic group.
• For part-time students, higher work intensity was generally associated with higher course completion rates.