Students in the United States work more than students in most other, postindustrial countries—more than triple the average amount of time their European and East Asian peers spend working, in fact. Researchers have taken many different approaches to examining the issue of employment and its effect on student outcomes and, as a result, have reached a wide range of conclusions. Some have concluded that increased time spent working results in decreased time spent on school activities and, thus, lower academic achievement, whereas others suggest that work experience builds character, strengthens organizational skills, and gives students a sense of responsibility that may actually increase achievement. Other researchers have proposed a “threshold” model, which posits that students will experience positive outcomes from work experience, as long as the time spent working does not exceed certain threshold values. The research highlighted in this issue of ResearchBrief examines the issues associated with student employment and the extent to which employment may, or may not, benefit students.