The state of the student worker

New report from the Bridges Center delves into the positives and negatives of UW student workers’ experiences

SEATTLE, WA (January 21, 2025) – Do you wonder what it’s like to be a student worker today? Look no further than the UW Harry Bridges Center’s new report, “The State of the Student Worker at the University of Washington.” This mixed methods study delves into the experiences of student workers who attend the University of Washington and their relationship with work.

In recent years, student academic workers have been joining together to collectively bargain working conditions in a surge of union organizing that’s sweeping higher education institutions across the United States. That includes organizing at the University of Washington, as well as other campuses throughout the state. And many students work service jobs, a sector that is seeing renewed organizing momentum. 

The Bridges Center report looks at student workers who balance the demands of higher education with employment (enrolled in at least six credits and have a paid position on- or off-campus). It’s a population that lacks sufficient research and support when considering their unique position as both students and workers.

Understanding why they work, how work affects them, and what they want to see changed is vital for continued organizing to improve both academic and working conditions. Per the Bridges Center, “Our full report intends to act as a resource for student workers and all readers by highlighting both the positive and the negative of student workers’ experiences.”

Join the Harry Bridges Center for their virtual student worker release and debrief with a panel on January 29, 2025, from 5pm to 7pm. Panelists are to be announced soon. Please register for Zoom here. The report will also be released in person on February 12, 2025, from 4pm to 5:30pm, at the Husky Union Building (HUB) in room 334.

The report was developed by nine Research Assistants who surveyed 600 students across the Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma campuses, along with the Bridges Center’s Researcher, Maya Cruz. Please reach out to Bridges Center Research Director Rachel Erstad, with any questions at rerstad@uw.edu.

The full report will also be available for viewing and downloading on the Center’s website: labor.uw.edu.