Time to Work or Time to Play: The Effect of Student Employment on Homework, Housework, Screen Time, and Sleep

BLS Working Paper No. 450

29 Pages Posted: 26 Mar 2009 Last revised: 8 May 2013

See all articles by Charlene M. Kalenkoski

Charlene M. Kalenkoski

Texas Tech University

Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia

U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Division of Productivity Research & Program Development

Date Written: March 25, 2009

Abstract

Recent research suggests that working while in high school reduces the amount of time students spend doing homework. However, an additional hour of work leads to a reduction in homework by much less than one hour, suggesting a reduction in other activities. This paper uses data from the 2003-2007 American Time Use Surveys (ATUS) to investigate the effects of market work on the time students spend on homework, sleeping, household work, and screen time. Results show that an increase in paid work reduces time spent in all of these activities by 84%, with the largest effect found for screen time.

Keywords: teenagers, time allocation, homework, screen time, sleep

JEL Classification: J13, J22, J24

Suggested Citation

Kalenkoski, Charlene M. and Pabilonia, Sabrina Wulff, Time to Work or Time to Play: The Effect of Student Employment on Homework, Housework, Screen Time, and Sleep (March 25, 2009). BLS Working Paper No. 450, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1368367 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1368367

Charlene M. Kalenkoski

Texas Tech University ( email )

2500 Broadway
Lubbock, TX 79409
United States

Sabrina Wulff Pabilonia (Contact Author)

U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Division of Productivity Research & Program Development ( email )

2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20212
United States
202-691-5614 (Phone)