From late-night restaurant shifts to stocking shelves, balancing work and study has become an everyday reality for a growing number of students – a shift driven by the rising cost of living. To understand how this trend is playing out locally, I launched an Instagram survey asking York students what kind of jobs they are taking on.
Nationally, a 2024 survey by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that 56% of students had paid employment, compared to 34% in 2021 – an increase of 65%. This increase mirrors the growing financial pressure students are facing, with Save the Student finding that the average monthly student living cost jumped by 39% from £795 in 2020 to £1,104 in 2024. In contrast, student maintenance loans increased by less than 12% in this period, making it no surprise that students are working more to make up the difference.
How is the rising cost of living affecting students at the University of York?
My survey of 158 York students found that 53% currently had a part-time job. A further 18% said they did not currently work but had done so at some point during their time at university. Another 11% said they were actively looking for work. That leaves just 18% who reported they had never worked during university and were not currently seeking a job.
1. Retail
Retail topped the list, with 21% of students answering that their work fell into this category. Whether it’s the availability of shifts or the familiarity of the work, retail appears to be a dominant choice for students balancing work and study.
2. Waitering/Waitressing
Following closely, 16% of students reported working in waitering or waitressing roles. These jobs, often fast-paced and customer-facing, remain a staple of student employment.
3. Campus Jobs
14% categorised their employment as a ‘campus job.’ These may be roles based on campus or connected to the University in some way.
4. Bar Work
Bar work followed closely behind, with 13% selecting this category. While the hours can be irregular, bar jobs remain a significant source of income for students.
5. Café Work
10% of students surveyed said their job best fit into the café category. This makes it another popular hospitality option, though slightly behind waitering and bar work in overall numbers.
6. Tutoring
Tutoring was chosen by 9.6% of respondents, placing it in a very close sixth place. While not as widespread as retail or hospitality jobs, tutoring offers a different kind of flexibility and is a notable source of income for students.
7. Kitchen Work and Babysitting (Tied)
Each of these categories accounted for 3.5% of responses. Among hospitality roles, kitchen work appears to be the least common. Meanwhile babysitting stands out as a more informal form of employment for students.
8. Leisure and Activity Jobs
This category was not originally included in the survey but emerged through student write-in responses. While students did not label their jobs this way, entries such as tour guiding, working at trampoline parks, and similar roles were grouped under this heading for clarity. Together, these made up 2.6% of responses.
9. Cleaning Work and Driving Jobs (Tied)
1.7% of students said they worked in cleaning roles, while another 1.7% reported jobs involving driving. This includes both delivery services and transportation-related work.
10. Tied Miscellaneous
Making up less than 1% of responses each, a small number of students reported working in roles such as pet care, swim instruction, agency work, and caregiving. These varied responses didn’t fit cleanly into the other categories but highlight the wide range of jobs students are taking on.
From retail to tour guiding, student life is changing with more and more students taking on extra roles to cover the cost of living. It is clear that balancing books and bills is becoming the new normal for many.