The bar chart shows the proportion of students in Australia who had part-time jobs in 1983 and 2003, while the table provides information about the average number of hours they worked per week and the average time taken to complete their degrees.
Overall, the proportion of students working part time increased in all age group between 1983 and 2003. In addition students in 2003 worked significantly more hours per week.
In 1983, around 35% of students aged 17-19 had part-time jobs, but this number increased to about 65% in 2003. For the 20-24 age group, the percentage rose from about 55% to around 75%, which was the highest among all groups. Students aged 25-29 also showed an increase, from 50% to nearly 70%. Similar trends can be seen among older students: the 30-39 group grew from about 45% to 60%, and the 40-plus group increased slightly from 40% to just above 50%.
According to the table, the average hours of paid work per week rose from 5 hours in 1983 to 14.4 hours in 2003. At the same time, the average study duration became longer, rising from 3 years to 4 years