Institute for Research on Labor and Employment

Each year, tens of thousands of California high school students balance schoolwork with paid employment, contributing significantly to the state’s economy while navigating unique challenges. After the Bell: A Portrait of High School Workers in California, the latest brief from the UCLA Labor Center’s “State of Young Workers in California” research initiative, analyzes the demographics, and working conditions of high school students who work. Drawing mainly from the 2017–2021 American Community Survey, the analysis highlights the competing demands of work and school for young workers and underscores the need for policies that ensure fair wages, safe workplaces, and educational support for working students.