A Survey of Workers and Learners in Los Angeles County During COVID-19
By: Sophia L. Ángeles, Mindy Chen, Jennifer Galvez, Janna Shadduck-Hernández, Preeti Sharma, Deja Thomas, Saba Waheed, and Michele Wong
A research brief that supplements a new report from the UCLA Labor Center, a unit of the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment, in partnership with the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute, documents the work and educational experience of those that are in school and also working during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This study supplements the report Unseen Costs: The Experiences of Workers and Learners in Los Angeles County with new data to highlight the conditions and changes to those working and going to school since COVID-19. Based on 236 surveys collected throughout Los Angeles public colleges and universities in April and May 2020, this study sought to build on existing knowledge concerning the experiences of working learners by documenting how their academic and life experiences have changed since the onset of the current pandemic and global health crisis.
Among other findings, the study finds:
- 32% of workers and learners are considering taking a break next academic term.
- 52% have been laid off, terminated, or furloughed from their jobs due to the pandemic
- 28% experienced housing changes due to COVID-19, such as moving back in with family or having to vacate student housing.
Report authors offer the following specific COVID-19 recommendations
- Address inequities in remote access and learning.
- Develop educational and workplace safety nets.
- Deliver holistic support for workers and learners.
Related Links:
Unseen Costs: The Experiences of Workers and Learners in Los Angeles County: This report examines the challenges facing learners at local public colleges and universities that are juggling the demands of studying and also working.
Send media inquiries for this report to: citlallichavez@ucla.edu
