Third of Leaving Certificate students have jobs

UP to one third of Leaving Certificate students are working after school and at weekends and some spend more time earning cash than at their books.

A sample survey of more than 1,000 students reveals that 35% of fifth-year students have a part-time job, but for boys in leaving certificate this only drops to 30%. However, only 18% of girls in their final year of school keep on working.

It also emerged that senior cycle students spend an average of nine hours at work every week. But a considerable number work up to 15 hours and a small minority clock up more than 23 hours weekly, almost two thirds of the average basic working week for full-time employees.