In 1993, about 21 million persons in the United States (about one-fifth of the total in nonagricultural industries) worked part time (fewer than 35 hours a week). Although the majority of persons working part time do so voluntarily, over the past 2 decades the number of involuntary part-time workers, those who want full-time jobs but who settle…

The most common economic reasons for part-time employment during recessions are cutbacks in weekly hours due to slack work and failure to find full-time positions. Each is characteristically distinct and illustrates different underlying labor market problems. (JOW)

The number of persons working part-time for economic reasons increased 60 percent (by 2.112 million workers) between 1979 and 1985. Although total wage and salary employment is up since 1979, nearly one in five new positions is a part-time job filled by a worker unsuccessful in finding full-time employment. Sixty-two percent of those working…

This bulletin contains information, culled from the March 1985 Current Population Survey (CPS) and the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), on the employment problems faced by American workers in 1984 and the impact of these problems on the economic status of their families and households. The following employment problems are…

A study examined the nature and the relative incidence of different forms of underemployment and how and under what conditions underemployment of older workers differed from that of younger workers. Data from May 1979, May 1988, and April 1993 Current Population Surveys (CPSs) for workers aged 50-64 were used. Two categories of underemployed…

The part-time job market now employs about 12.5 million persons who are voluntary part timers--those who customarily work one to thirty-four hours a week on their own volition. Data from the Current Population Survey (March-May, 1973) was used to examine the cross-sectional distribution of the employment and wages of part timers, and an analysis…

An exploratory study attempted (1) to learn why some employers use permanent part time employment and others do not, (2) to suggest what the benefits and costs of part-time employment are, and (3) to describe which work settings are well-suited to part time employment and which are not. Data were obtained from personal interviews and mail…

Throughout the world, the forms of employment in industrialized countries are in a state of flux. Employment relationships that were previously considered "regular" (permanent, full-time) are becoming less significant. In place of these relationships, other employment options (such as fixed contracts, part-time employment, and contingent…

In an effort to pare labor and benefits costs, many businesses and government employers have significantly reduced the size of their permanent, full-time work forces in favor of a part-time work force and various types of contingent workers: independent contractors, temporary workers, on-call workers and day laborers, and leased workers.…

The actual and desired working hours of women in western and eastern Germany were examined by surveying a random sample of 6,742 western and eastern German women aged 18-65 years. Of the women interviewed, 1,800 from western Germany and 1,341 from eastern Germany were in dependent employment. An overall response rate of 52.8% was achieved.…

In response to the need for up-to-date information on employment opportunities for handicapped people in the leisure occupations, a national survey was conducted to determine both existing levels of employment and employer practices. The survey was sent to 500 agencies and businesses representing four leisure occupational subclusters: travel,…

Lawyers' work, home, and family demands and their strategies for coping with those demands were examined through telephone interviews with practicing lawyers from Calgary, Alberta. Of the 121 lawyers interviewed, 56 were men and 44 were women who worked full-time and 21 were women who worked part-time. Sixty-seven percent of them were associates…

This chartbook presents information on the extent and nature of unemployment in the United States. The statistics presented are part of a broad array of unemployment and related labor force data available from the Current Population Survey, a sample survey of some 60,000 households conducted monthly by the Bureau of the Census. The 28 charts and…

Participation in work activities by high school students has been increasing over the past 25 years to the point where today at least one-third of all high school students hold part-time jobs in any given week. Student participation in work varies by geographic region and type of community, with older, white, middle-class, male vocational students…

The recession has fueled calls in Congress to extend and expand unemployment insurance (UI) benefits. Although UI expansion is needed in the short run, the program is also in need of more fundamental and permanent reform to transform it from an industrial era program to one that is better suited for the New Economy. Policymakers must take the…