Part-Time Work

Part-time work refers to jobs in which employees work less than 30 or 35 hours per week, whereas any employees who work more than this cutoff are considered full-time. There is a wide range of types of part-time jobs and a range of how many hours a part-time employee works. Part-time work represents a multifaceted experience because of the variety of reasons people pursue this work, the types of part-time work available, voluntary or involuntary decisions to work part-time, and other aspects of such employment.

Part-time work was popularized in the United States and Europe in the 1970s, particularly in industries such as service, retail, finance, insurance, and real estate. Recent shifts in the nature and popularity of part-time work were caused by economic and legal ...