Abstract
Part-time employment among secondary school pupils has increased considerably in the Netherlands since the 1990s. This article focuses on the question of which secondary school pupils are employed in what kind of part-time jobs, and, more important, on the question of the extent to which these jobs negatively affect school achievement. To answer these research questions adequately, a nationally representative survey among secondary school pupils held in 2001/2002 was analysed (N=8,529). Results indicate that part-time employment during secondary school is negatively associated with (self-reported) school achievement. This negative relationship, however, is not attributable to the employment activities themselves. Rather, the observed association is a spurious one, originating from differential (self-)selection into employment. After controlling for differences in socio-demographic characteristics, previous school performance and attitudes towards schooling between pupils with and without a part-time job, part-time working pupils do not report significantly lower school achievement.
