Part-Time Work

Characteristics of Part-Time Workers

The classification of worker as full-time or part-time is determined by the standard used by the reporting government. In general, part-timers work less than 40 hours per week. Most part-time workers are paid by the hour (the median weekly earnings for part-time workers in 2005 was $201) and are not part of their organization's benefit plans that include vacation, pension, insurance, and other benefits. Two thirds of part-time workers are female. One third of part-time workers are in sales and office occupations (e.g., sales and administrative support); another 25% are in management, professional, and other related occupations; and another 25% are in service occupations.

Not only do part-time workers differ from full-time workers, but they also differ among types of part-time workers. Part-time workers may be permanent or temporary, organization- or agency-hired, year-round or seasonal, voluntary or involuntary, or they may moonlight. Additionally, part-time positions may be classified according to cyclical businesses (e.g., construction), secondary work (e.g., fast-food services), or retention-oriented jobs.

Many part-time workers are highly skilled, career-committed, and want career development, but a variety of reasons necessitate these people work part-time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 12.5% of all part-time workers believe that economic reasons drive their need to work part-time, which includes business conditions, seasonal work, and the unavailability of full-time work. The majority of people who work part-time give noneconomic reasons for their position, such as child care problems, retirement, other family or personal obligations, or school or training obligations.

Part-Time Workers

Part-time workers obviously work less than the standard number of hours that full-timers work. However, the differences between part-time and full-time workers cover much more than just this simple classification distinction. People with certain job attitudes and behaviors may be drawn toward part-time work. The goals, attitudes, motivations, and outcomes associated with part-time workers can be very different from those associated with full-time workers. This difference can be crucial in terms of career counseling and working with part-timers, especially when the topic is their retention in organizations. In other words, practices and methods used for the retention of full-time workers may be quite different from those used for part-time workers. A definite difference exists between part-time and full-time workers. Career counselors and others who work with part-time [Page 1593]workers such as managers and supervisors or those working in the human resources and training fields must understand that part-time workers cannot be treated the same as full-time workers. Part-time workers have a definite psychology of work that is different from that of full-time workers. Those who work with part-time workers must understand these differences and apply this information in order to effectively counsel and work with a part-time worker population, especially when considering their retention in the workplace.

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