The author highlights the predominance of the five-day, 40-hour workweek. Although finding little change in recent years in the proportion of workers on 40-hour schedules, Smith notes that there have been some changes in work patterns, with a still small but growing group of workers on "compressed" full-time weeks of less than five days.…

Presents highlights of the issue's eight other articles that examine data from a special 1985 household survey covering topics such as the number of workers who moonlight, who work at home, who have flexible hours, or who would prefer to work more or fewer hours per week. (Author/CT)

The number of Americans working for themselves continues to increase, reaching 9.1 million in 1983. They tend to be older than other workers, and although they work longer hours, their earnings are lower. (SK)

Based on data from the supplement to the February 1995 Current Population Survey, contingent workers were more likely to be female, black, young, enrolled in school, and employed in services and construction industries than were noncontingent workers. More than 10% were teachers. (Author)

More than one-fifth of employed persons with disabilities work late or rotating shifts, about the same as nondisabled workers. Day workers with disabilities receive lower hourly wages than nondisabled workers. Except for men, nonday workers with disabilities receive wages similar to their nondisabled counterparts. (Contains 27 references.)…

Data from the Current Population Survey indicate that relatively well paid, highly educated persons have more than one job because their schedule allows it, because their expertise is in demand, or because their financial reasons extend beyond meeting basic living expenses and paying off debts. (Author/JOW)

In international comparisons it was found that manufacturing productivity growth slowed after 1973 and unit labor costs accelerated in most industrial countries including the United States. Aggregate hours rose only in the U.S. (CT)

Discusses the definitions of contingent workers and alternative work arrangements used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to analyze data, and presents aggregate estimates of the number of workers in each group. Discusses the overlap between contingent workers and workers in alternative arrangements. (Author/JOW)

The author focuses on the workday and finds that about one of eight full-time workers were on flexitime or other schedules that allowed them to vary the start and end of their daily work. The great majority were on typical daylight schedules. (CT)

Examines changes in employment, unemployment, and hours of work in manufacturing, with particular focus on the five major metal-using and producing industries which are particularly sensitive to economic cycles. (SK)

Flexible work schedules have more than doubled since 1985, but workers sometimes must be willing to increase their hours, work evening shifts, or switch to part-time status, self-employment, or certain occupations to get flexibility. Flexibility was less likely for nonwhite, female, unmarried, and less-educated workers. (Contains 38 notes and…

Explores the impact on workers of being in a nonstandard employment arrangement. Examines the distribution of workers among various arrangements and looks at aspects of work behavior and life events that may have influenced their working in a nonstandard arrangement. (Author/JOW)

Low-educated employed mothers have a higher prevalence of working nonstandard hours and days, nonfixed daytime schedules, and weekends than do their more educated counterparts. Welfare reformers will have to consider improving the fit between the availability of child care and these working mothers' schedules. (Author)

Bureau of Labor Statistics data show the industrial sector as a whole in healthy shape, but a few manufacturing industries in deep trouble. These industries include tobacco manufacturers, iron and steel foundries, leather products, and steel manufacturers. Also examines shifts in employment and output, job quality, and outlook for the future. (CT)

Data from a time-diary survey suggest that the average elementary school teacher works almost two hours per day more than the time required by contract. However, findings show that choice of measurement substantially affects time estimates. (JOW)