More People Pushed Into Part-Time Work Force

[flashl]

Source: WSJ

As the softening economy begins to push more people into part-time jobs in place of full-time work, the part-time world is getting tougher.

For many, the nature of part-time work is changing. More and more people are working part-time jobs for economic reasons, rather than by choice. That figure rose by 100,000 in February for the second month in a row, the Labor Department reported yesterday, bringing it to 4.79 million -- compared to 4.13 million a year ago, and the highest since 1993.

More people also are holding multiple part-time jobs out of economic need. In 2007, an average of 1.8 million people held two jobs for that reason, the highest since the government began regularly tracking the statistic in 1994. The growth was largely fueled by women, who overtook men to make up the majority of the multiple-job market for the first time, according to a labor bureau study.

A big factor is the fast-growing retail sector, which has felt more pressure to use part-timers since many supermarket and big-box chains started staying open for extended hours in the 1980s and 1990s. The stores' most recent wrinkle is the adoption of computerized scheduling systems, which try to boost service and trim costs by matching staff size to customer traffic, hour by hour. Growth of part-time staff in the sector has been slightly outpacing that of full-time staff since 2000, according to Labor Department figures.

WSJ

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120180029637632435.html...

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Needing a part-time job as a basic economic necessity has been the norm for Americans since the mid to late 90s. The mantra of a ‘great economy’ simply did not allow the ‘part-time job’ growth to surface and receive attention.

[fasttense]

1. Multiple part-time jobs

are the poor man's overtime. In today's economy good full time jobs are not out there.

[OKthatsIT]

6. BUSH ADMIN Statistics: NEW JOBS are on the Record

[OhioChick]

10. Right....

And no benefits.

[Dollface]

2. This is also a way for companies to avoid paying benefits (read health care),

especially in low skilled jobs where training costs are minimal so you don't care if workers feel vested in the job.

[Festivito]

5. And, any other benefits: sick days, holidays, unemployment ins, ...

We don't prosecute serial hirings, so it's legal...

[Joe Steel]

3. Next Step Down

My local grocery store relies on part-timers to stock shelves, stand behind the deli counter and most other things. I wonder when they'll start hiring day laborers. Maybe soon they'll just hire the first 10 people in line at the door in the morning for a few hours.

[NMDemDist2]

4. welcome to DU Joe Steel!

sadly, those first 10 would probably be grateful to do it too.....

[Heywood J]

13. Just like the Mexicans.

We can stand in the parking lot of Home Depot and wait for pickup trucks to show up...

[pop goes the weasel]

7. nice of WSJ to notice

The loss of full time work to part time has been an increasing trend since the Reagan error (yes, I know. I meant to spell it that way). Especially for people working for state and local governmental agencies, it has been a true burden. For the sake of tax reduction, full time jobs have been ended and replaced with 18 hour a week jobs that are temporary, paid hourly or contractually with 18 hour weeks stipulated, and don't even pay into Social Security.

Everyone needs to wake up and demand that Congress repair this damage. The job you save may be your own.

[Heywood J]

14. Between companies like Haliburton/KBR using the Cayman Islands

to avoid paying into Social Security and companies cheaping out on part-time workers to avoid contributing, then people wonder why Social Security is in crisis...

It might actually work if people paid into it.

[pop goes the weasel]

16. can 't have that

If people paid into Social Security, and were thus covered by Social Security, they might actually think that government does something for them. Better for them to feel hopeless. They are much easier pickings that way.

[4dsc]

8. Heck I work part time at full time wages

Is a truck driver of specialty freight, I don't work all year long but I make decent money to live upon..

I don't think I could survive a 9-5 job in today's world.. Punching a clock is not for me..

[AnneD]

9. 'You have THREE jobs....

how uniquely American'. Bush to single mom with a handicapped child asking about healthcare.

Sheesh what a dumb fuck!

[sarcasmo]

11. Greatest country in the world, my ASS. Kick and Nom.

[EndElectoral]

12. How to keep the unemployment rate low? Get everyone to work part-time!!

[conflictgirl]

15. Sadly there is so much truth in that statement.