A new study by Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC) has found that many working students in the Philippines are grappling with sleep deprivation, burnout, and the risk of dropping out, underscoring the strain of balancing full-time work and academic responsibilities.
The findings, released in MMDC’s inaugural “State of the Working Student (SWS) Report” on March 21, show that 56.1% of respondents sleep five hours or fewer each night. The report links this to impaired cognitive function, higher risk of depression, and declining academic and job performance.
Burnout also emerged as a major concern, with 58.1% of students reporting feeling overwhelmed and nearly half (49.7%) experiencing emotional and mental exhaustion.
Despite these challenges, a significant majority of respondents expressed resilience: 74.8% said they were proud of balancing work and school, while 78.7% reported confidence in their understanding of industry skills.
Still, the pressure is taking a toll. The study found that 45.2% of working students have seriously considered quitting school due to personal or work-related demands.
Time management was identified as the top academic obstacle by 52.9% of respondents. More than 80% of those surveyed are employed full-time, with 43.9% juggling a full academic load alongside a 40-hour workweek — double the commonly recommended limit for student employment.
Many also carry additional responsibilities outside work and school. The report noted that 41.3% have caregiving duties, while 77.4% provide financial support to others, further stretching their time and resources.
The study highlighted demand for interventions such as financial literacy programs, career placement support, and mental health services, pointing to broader socioeconomic pressures affecting working students.
MMDC said it plans to release the report annually to inform schools, industry players, and policymakers.
“The SWS Report serves as an essential framework for leaders in academia and industry on how we can redesign and improve our systems to better support this unique demographic,” said Dennis Tablante, executive director at MMDC.
