A Theoretical Examination of Moonlighting Among Higher Education Students

Abstract

The practice of moonlighting, where people take on additional jobs to augment their principal source of income, is an intriguing phenomenon, which seems to be gaining more prevalence among higher education students. Researchers are therefore examining the effects of this tendency on students' academic performance and professional prospects more and more, underscoring the significance of this trend for scholarly attention. The current research intends to explore this trend using three well-established theoretical perspectives: Human Capital Theory, Labour Market Segmentation Theory, and Social Exchange Theory. By examining these viewpoints, we can learn more about how moonlighting can be viewed as an investment, comprehend the traits of various labour market segments and how they affect students' moonlighting behaviours, and finally, we can better understand why university students choose to or not to moonlight and the variables that influence their decisions.