According to a recent report by the Labor Department, while unemployment numbers remain problematic, underemployment is not “as bad as it used to be.” Why? Because it turns out a lot of part-time employees like staying at home for “personal reasons” and are choosing to continue to do so rather than seek full-time employment[1]. Last September, 9.5 million part-time workers reported that they were working part-time for “economic reasons rather than personal reasons.” This past July, that number had fallen by 1.1 million. Less than a third (31%) of part-time workers would prefer full-time work (35 hours or a more a week). Of course, only 19 percent of part-time workers were seeking full-time work before 2008, but the numbers still represent a significant improvement that economists cannot definitely explain, though analysts believe it has to do with part-timers realizing that with a part-time lifestyle comes a better “work/life balance.”
Do you think that in the long run, part-time and contract work might be considered by many Americans to be better than a full-time job?
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[1] http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/29/news/economy/part_time_workers/index.htm
My question is; Are these folks getting unemployment checks and working off book or it it truely part time workers who need just that extra bit for some other reason. (Like their spouse was reduced in pay or hours and therefore that extra bacon is a need now?)
There may also be a tax issue as the more the hours the higher the pay. Maybe in some cases the extra hours landed them in the higher tax bracket and they said “Well why would I want to do that?”
I consider myself to be a part-time worker who also works as a contractor on various projects when available. This classification is by choice and has nothing to do with taxes nor are unemployment checks being collected.
After being laid off from two separate employers, this type of work became a way of life for me. It fact, I feel more empowered and in control of my destiny now than when I was full-time employee. The only downside to this new found freedom is the lack of health care.