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Subscribe to RSSAndrea Mulhearn Brobst wants a full-time job.
Despite having a four-year degree in business, she’s only been able to find a low-paying part-time retail job since she was laid off “from a real job at the beginning of this economic mess,” she said.
And Kathi Nguyen has been relying on temporary jobs since she lost her full-time corporate position in 2007. “It's just an extremely frustrating situation,” she said. “I want full-time.”
Unfortunately, finding a coveted full-time gig has gotten harder since the Great Recession hit, and last week’s May unemployment data showed the problem is getting worse.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an uptick in the number of workers classified as “involuntary part time,” or those who’d rather be working a 40-hour plus week. The data shows the number of people working part time for economic reasons climbed above 8 million in May.
There are two types of employees that come under the involuntary part-time category: those who are working fewer hours because their present employer cut back hours due to business conditions, and those who just can’t find full-time jobs.
While the number of employees who saw their full-time work schedules cut by their existing employers stayed about even with last month, and declined 8.8 percent from last year; the number of workers who could only find part-time jobs rose about 12 percent to 2.6 million in May, and increased about the same percentage compared to the same month last year.
And since the recession began in 2008, the number of people who were part time because they couldn’t find a full-time position skyrocketed by 1.4 million individuals, or 117 percent, according to research by Heidi Shierholz, economist for the Economic Policy Institute.
“It’s probably more a story of job opportunities,” she said. “Desperate workers have to settle with what they can find.”
Companies are just not willing to take on many more workers in this economy, even though employers are starting to see signs of economic life.
“Employers are reluctant to add full-time, permanent employees and they’re looking for innovative ways to respond to business,” said Craig Rowley, vice president of human resource consulting company Hay Group.
The big question, he said, is how do they respond to an uptick in sales without adding fixed expenses such as permanent workers? “They look at temp workers and employing more part time employees,” he said.
While Rowley said companies will add more full-time workers as the economy continues to improve, the employment world is shifting to a more just-in-time model. “They are looking for a more flexible workforce,” he said, especially in retail and healthcare.
That flexibility, however, isn’t good news for workers who want full-time, permanent jobs.
“The constant fluctuation in hours from week to week means that workers face ongoing uncertainty about their earnings,” stated Nancy Kauthen, a sociologist and policy consultant in a 2011 report titled: “Scheduling Hourly Workers: How last minute, just-in-time scheduling practices are bad for workers, families and business.” “The financial instability alone can create tremendous stress for low- to moderate-income families who never know whether their wages will cover the monthly bills.”
What’s your take? Are you working part time but would rather have a full-time gig?
Leave a Comment:
the only good jobs are with the government, try hard to get these...the whole system is pretty messed up. private sector isn't working when it comes to good paying/full time jobs...good luck america, we are going to need lots of it. nothing will improve until the $16,000,000,000,000.00+ debt we have is taken serious and is brought down. stone6 said it right, capitalism is leaving town and right soon.
That's Father Capitalism; Mother Socialism is still here...and frankly, a lot of us may be glad she is.
The debt is a huge problem, but secondary to the immediate problem of jobs and growth.
My reference is to the fact that our last two "economic booms" have been based on bubbles, with the last weaker than the one that preceded it. Both were based on "overvalued assets." The first regarding dot.com stocks; the second regarding real estate.
The giant "sucking sound" Ross Perot reminded us of, is not only from the South (NAFTA), it is also the "further South" (South America) and Asia (China, India, et al).
The older, more advanced industrial economies (Western Europe, Japan, the USA) are largely "victims" of their own successes. And, as capitalism fueled that success, birth rates dropped, yielding societies that are aging, with far richer populations than the emerging economies (and hence less natural demand), but with the desire for the type of security old age needs...namely a sustenance income and medical care. Yes...read that as Social Security and Medicare.
Sooo...bad situation. Modern capitalism, based on mass consumption, needs a lot of young people, who have enormous appetites for material consumption, and the savings to either purchase those things or obtain the credit to do so.
"Supply-siders" fooled you (at least for the past couple of decades). The theory that if you build a better mouse trap, the consumer will beat a path to your door, and that demand is always there is, under certain circumstances namely this one, wrong.
You really can not sell ice to the Eskimos...because they already have enough.
And, effective demand requires not only the desire to possess something you don't have, it also includes the means by which to obtain it...money or credit.
And, at the moment, the American consumer has little of each and is hanging on to what they do have. For effective demand to return to the USA, first past debt must be paid down. Then personal savings must be restored (something that I believe is slowly happening). Then responsible credit has to be granted based on those savings. After that, demand returns and with it jobs.
So...remember the book Catch 22. The catch was that while the squadron commander, Major Major Major, had an "open door policy," you could only make an appointment to see him, when he was't there.
That's the Catch 22...for demand to return, jobs must come back; but for jobs to come back, demand must return.
All of that adds up to Big Time Trouble...and a generation of reasonably slow growth. There are ways out of it...but beware of ANYONE trying to sell you a "quick fix," because they are most likely another Major Major Major.
Isn't government's role to create an ENVIRONMENT friendly to business, hence creating jobs rather than creating the jobs directly??????
Created private sector jobs have employees paying taxes, the employer pays taxes... the suppliers pay taxes.... with government jobs... the government is spending the money coming in to pay for the jobs right? So wouldn't private sector jobs paying taxes and creating income be the smarter way?
I retired two years ago at 48... to go back to school and head into a new career....I would gladly invest and open a business.... but the regulations and rules are so overwelming.... my former employer of 17 years told me yesterday that he wouldn't/couldn't do it now if he was starting a new business........
Yes...normally. I can think of two or three exceptions: 1) a needed function, such as something related to national defense, which wouldn't be profitable enough for the private sector to pursue; 2) regulatory agencies, who are supposed to enforce the rules without partiality; 3) as the employer of last resort - i.e. when the private sector cannot or will not create jobs.
I view most of the Executive branch of government as essentially the "overhead cost" of society. There are a lot of "necessary jobs" in large businesses, whose function cannot be directly traced to added value, but are essential to growth.
Can't judge your business venture or the cost of regulation involved. Suppose there is a vast difference between, say, opening a real estate office, versus running a coal mine.
Nobody "creates jobs" technically. Demand for goods and services do. And yes governments can create that demand. In fact if you trace the money in most businesses it ultimately traces back to the governments of the world.
How?
I wish everyone would quit pointing fingers at Democrats and Republicans .They have never ever represented the populace .It is all about control. Wealth dictates the direction of this nation, not it"s socalled leaders. How have they helped anyone or the people of the U. S. A.. We have been turned into slaves ,Freedom does not exist ,it is merely an illusion That you are being sold. If you think your free look in a mirror ,do not believe what media or politicians tell you, ask your self what is freedom to me? Shut the country down for 2 days and then people and politicians will wake up.
Ah...a General Strike. You must be European?
Has that really changed anything anywhere?
even though employers are starting to see signs of economic life <~~~ I sure wish they'd say WHERE. I sure haven't seen any.
Bruce537090, youre right we are a version of slaves, we just have a bit better living conditions.........for now
Yes jobs are harder to find' thats the way Republicans want it or they would have passed the jobs bill. They have gridlocked everything for three years and this economy crisis along with job crisis belong to Republicans and there is no other way to see it,Facts are Facts.
I agree. Gridlock created this economic mess and until politicians decide to do something for this country and not their own interests, we will continue in gridlock. It seems that the republicans have reached their goal.
But the American people may wind up being complicit. It isn't as though they don't know what has been going on. It isn't as if they don't know that the Republicans would rather make the President fail for the sake of their own power than to do what's right for the Country.
like totally
youtube.com/watch?v=ZXbMyvmhIZ4
When employers see higher expenses headed their way.... thru more regulations... more laws.... more requirements.... they take the cheaper way out......just like we do when we shop for groceries or gas..... part timers are cheaper because they don't have to give them the benefits..... can't tell me that the Dems didn't see this coming when they implemented Obummercare...
We were losing benifits before Obama Care. There will always be a good business reason tho shaft your neighbor.
Business have long used part-time employees instead of full-time in an attempt to cut out their need to shed the expenses of benefits they'd pay for full-time workers. Also, trend has always been that people with a B.S. in Business had a hard time finding jobs so most people have had to go the MBA route. Interesting article but I think it shows the tough economic condition the current administration inherited. I think, given time though, the current economic climate will turn around. But, it's unrealistic for people to think it's going to happen overnight. That said, most people I know have worked either a full-time and part-time or several part-times since as long as I can remember. At least, that's the way things go (and have long been) in my neck of the woods!!!
I'm not sure if I'm unemployed or just haven't managed to weave enough part time gigs together to even sort of cover expenses. Right now I'm subbing in ESL classes a few days a month, teaching online English classes 2 hours a week, delivering magazine by bicycle one week a month and helping a bug exterminator when he needs me. I'd really like to go back to the classroom and teach which is what I've done most of my life. If this part time stuff is the new normal it stinks but if that's all there is then I guess I'll have to suck it up and find me a couple more of these part time gigs.
Have you tried tutoring? Especially for those SAT's. How about your own web site? You seem to have the smarts for it.
It's all Bush's fault. That is the only logical explanation - now, tomorrow, or 100 years from now...
No really :-)
Can't be true. Didn't they read the earlier article where College grads are getting multiple offers and HS grads are worthless?
The college degree edge has become a myth; spending $40,000 to get a part-time low paying job is a sign of insanity at the minimum and mental deficiency at the worst.
This situation is quite deliberate and calculated.
The US imports 125,000* foreign workers each and every month and has done so for well over a decade. Do the math yourself.
If every working age US citizen were unemployed the immigration system would continue to import these unneeded workers.
It is true that outrageous levels of immigration equals unemployed citizens.
But so long as we have a corporate dictatorship instead of democracy in this country this total disregard and undermining of US citizens will continue.
The slow motion shock-wave continues unabated.
*numbersusa.com
Dr. Veruju--- I am a life-long Democrat, and I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. I WILL NOT be voting for Obama as a result of his promotion of rewards and special treatment for the IMMIGRATION LAWBREAKERS!
The number of 125,000 is for legal workers, illegals are on top of this outrageous number. Talk about flooding the labor market.
WOOOOOOOOW No S h I t and we needed msnbc to tell us there is no full time work out there what a waste of good typing skills cus your morons at msnbc that is what we have BEEN B I TIC H ING ABOUT !
The economy is not "at all" improving. This is all lies.
When Obama is no longer president in 2013, things should start to look better.
of course its not improving .. they gave money to the banks 3 fking times ( not teh people who would be the ones keeping this b it ch going ) , jr ran this country into the ground and i hate to tell ya rightys but its gonna take 3 4 maybe 5 terms with only one side in office before it will ever get somewhat close to straightened out .. simple math! BIG FISH .. EAT THE LITTLE FISH WHEN THE LITTLE FISH HAVE DIED AND STARVED TO DEATH BIG FISH DIE TOO !
Its all us AVERAGE Joes who keep this country afloat !
we are all slowing dying off but its all ok cus WE SAVED THE BANKS !
rbn,
No it will not be better because the same government will still be in power.
also why people that are here illegally getting health care we cannot afford what other country besides the U.S, can you go to and say take care of me
I quit work when my husband took a new job and we had to move and we found that if we were careful, I could stay at home with the kids for awhile which we felt was in their best interest. I had missed so much of my first two children's first years while I was working full time and they were with a sitter all day and then in the evenings had work I had to bring home with me to do. Now my children are older and I've been trying to get back into the workforce. I have a college degree and several years of work experience. I've been trying to find a full time job for three months now and put in more applications than I can count and have yet to even get ONE interview! It's insane. I've been applying for jobs outside my field but that I have previous experience doing and that only pay $8-13 an hour and still can't get a foot in the door. The rejection letters all say the same thing....they're looking for someone more qualified (even though I have a college degree and DO have experience that qualifies me for the job!) I'm 36 and I'm scared that I won't be able to get back into the workforce. If something happened to my husband the insurance money would not last forever, what would I do if I didn't have a job or couldn't find one that would support myself and my children? Recently a neighbor of mine that's around my age applied for a job at McDonalds. They told her she wasn't qualified! Not qualified to work at McDonalds??? I wish someone would just give me a chance...at least an interview. A resume or info on a job application doesn't tell you much about a person honestly. People complain about others being so lazy and not wanting to work. I WANT to work but no one wants to give me the opportunity. A good friend of mine told me that places don't want to hire someone that's currently unemployed and that there was even a flap recently with businesses telling temp agencies to not even send them applicants that weren't currently employed. I tried to do the right thing by my children by giving them my time and attention during their early years and now I feel like I'm being penalized for it.
I have to say i am sooooo sorry but unfortunately when you life crashes and crumbles you will find out what the real world is all about and what millions of us been going thew ALL OUR LIVES
I suppose you think I don't know what the "real world" is like....I grew up very poor. I was a "free lunch" kid, clothes from the church thrift store, parents drove a beat up used crappy car because it was the best we could afford (and we only had one for a very long time.) I worked hard in school and graduated as a high honors student, won a large scholarship, and got an education so that I WOULDN"T have to live like that for the rest of my life. Believe me, I know what the "real world" is like. I did everything right...everything I was ever told to do so that I could escape the kind of life I grew up in, worked hard, got a good education....and it's getting me no where.
You are so full of it,it 's unbelieveable! You put just too much ,WHAAAA,into it sweeyheart.You may have a degree but it's in eng. lit or political science and the last job you got was an accident.Don't try and play the bleeding heart ,trying to make the big,bad repubs look terrible.You know the truth is you are making $10 per hour writing this crap and are living at your mommy's house living in the basement!Get a life,a real one.How does it fell knowing they big union guys who make $65-$75 per hour have set up a company to funnel you $10 per hours to be their shill!Loser!
Wow...what an idiot. I bet you work for one of those "psychic" phone lines that never get anything right lol. My degree is in education. I worked as a teacher for close to ten years. I would also like to get back into the workforce so I could afford to continue my education and get a masters degree. I don't recall saying anything about Republicans in either of my posts. Get a life.
heyyyyyyyyyy AD13 ..... WELCOME TO AMERICA !
The land of the BROKE & DESTITUTE !
almost forgot the one thing YOU DIDNT DO RIGHT..
When you were SITTING high on that hog you were
NOT PAYING ANY ATTENTION AND SPITING AND TALKING DOWN ON US WHO WERE !
Huh? When did I ever do that? When was I ever sitting "high on that hog?" Even when I was working I made less than 35K a year as a teacher considering our priorities in this country are screwed and education comes way down the totem pole of importance here. It's always the first thing that gets its budget cut when states need money for their stupid pork barrel projects like studying goth kids in KC or whatever.
What's most shocking about this story is that after 17 out of 19 days of running stories that effect 1.7% of the population(gays/lenanese),msnbc finally did an article on JOBS! Not a very good !I didn't even have to read it.I know it blames the republican congress and everyone but Berry.After,I'm done commitimh ,i'll go back and see how wrong I am!
This has been the truth for the last 4 years MSNBC....Where have you had your head parked?
Don't blame msnbc. It publishes what it's told to publish. :-)
I'm sorry I just don't think full-time jobs are going to be out there as much as they were before due to Obama care and the whole insurance mess.
The economy will never be what is was now that the boomers are retiring, cutting expenses and not investing in growth the way have all their lives. All other things being equal this alone would have had a slowing effect on the economy. Until you see another large generation like this, you won't see another economy like we had before the Great Recession. With or with out Obama care.
Let me see if I understand these msnbc articles correctly...
A person needs a college degree (with its associated $100,000+ in student loans) to get a part-time job?
You need a degree in something other than eng lit or political science! You can add to that Hispanic and Black studies! How wants to hire someone who only knows the birthday of MLK or Poncho Villa!
People allowed this decline to happen over the last 30 years. They've shut down factories, shipped myriad jobs abroad and hobbled a nations ability to produce goods and services for it's domestic economy. Why are people surprised that the jobs are all gone and the domestic economy is on the ropes? Now Graduates are competing with trailer park trash for a job flipping burgers.
Hell of a price for a cheap & nasty shirt at Wal-Mart.
Don't bleat about this being down to one administration either...this has been slowly creeping into the picture since Regan.
Capitalism has become perverted. Once proud multination companies are now wicked and exploitative. Just source the slaves wherever the labor laws are weakest and wages are lowest regardless of where that service is being delivered to.
I agree. True capitalism allows for anyone to have the opportunity to work their way up the ladder. The form of capitalism we are currently NOT enjoying is where a small number of people hold all the power in their hands and no one can knock them from their pedestals and they own and control everything. It's much more like feudalism where there are the "nobles" and the "serfs."
Show some respect.
That's manufactured home community recyclable refuse.
flylowguy ! So does the libturds!
look all of you rightys when things were all good back in the 70's 80's and early 90's NOT A 1 OF YOU GAVE A SH IT !
NO one was paying any attention to all of what they were DEREGULATING and giving away !
NOW that is has all came crashing down its...
OMG ! It must be Obama's fault ..
not true this @!$%# started back when REAGAN was in office and has only gotten worse ...
You can not keep feeding the big fish and leaving nothing for the little fish ... the god thinking rightys gave away our jobs now bi tc h when you dont have one oh well boo hoo we been saying t for the longest .
No macdonals will not hire someone in their 30's- 40's cus YOU have KIDS .. You may need a day off and its easier to EXPLOIT A high school kid or some illegal !
ALL OUR JOBS ARE IN CHINA , INDIA AND THE PHILIPPIANS ... AND HOW TEH FK DID THEY GET THERE ?
Ohhhhh and .............
WHO WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE JOBS LEFT OUR COUNTRY ?
shhh...... NOT THE BLACK MAN
You are very correct. I'm also sick to death of hearing Obama being blamed for everything that's wrong when the same problems started before he even took office...hell...even before 2008. It sickens me when I hear people talk about how great Reagan was. He screwed this country up and we've been paying for it ever since. The whole idea of a trickle down economy is a pipe dream. It doesn't happen. Once someone gets ahold of that kind of money, they're not going to "trickle it down" to anyone. We're seeing that now with the absurd amount of money CEO's of companies are getting paid that could be used to hire more workers and expand their businesses to do so but it's doing nothing but sitting in these CEO's bank accounts. These CEO's don't give a damn about this country or its citizens. If American tanks, they can just take their billions and go somewhere else to set up shop and likely they already have.
MSWXYZ: your brain has overheated! You need to take your cap off,check the wiring and tin foil,take your meds and lay down for a nappy! I'll watch out for the big,bad white guys while you nappy! I'm warning you,if you don't your head could explode and all your immeidate family will have to go on wlefare,if they aren't already!
mas098;
Where in the heck did you come from?
mas098- Instead of lecturing others you might try contributing something besides insults.
There are a growing number of companies that have rearranged their whole schedule so they only staff with part time people. That way, according to them, the workers are not eligible for any health or other benefits.
As long as there's a line at the gate with job seekers and applications in hand, they can get away with it.
We will become a nation of slaves at this rate.
We could call this the Walmart/ Target effect. Both have been doing this for years.
There are not enough jobs to go around and unemployment is extemely high.
Thank Obama for this mess as he has done nothing at all to get us out of it.
Obama has the power to create jobs and the financial pull to do so yet he does nothing to help Americans. That is the reality of the situation.
VOTE OUT OBAMA AND SAVE AMERICA!!!
Remember "shovel ready jobs"?
I still have the shovel and I am waiting patiently.
Ahhhh SAM....
ALL OUR JOBS ARE IN CHINA , INDIA AND THE PHILIPPIANS ... AND HOW THE FK DID THEY GET THERE ?
Ohhhhh and .............
WHO WAS IN OFFICE WHEN THE JOBS LEFT OUR COUNTRY ?
shhh...... NOT THE BLACK MAN
lol yea lets blame the President. It's maddening to watch so many companies make profits, often record profits. And at the same time, banks (who are making hand over fist) keep adding new fees. The airlines whose profits are up, keep adding fees. Health premiums and/or deductibles keep jumping up every year, and yet insurance companies are handing their boards insane bonus's.
Face it, it's a differerent world out there now. And if you're an adult with a brain, you know it's NOT because of the AHA. (Tell me again, how Obama told the insurance companies to raise their profit line? I forgot.)
Grow up and do something. Other than just whine. It's NOT just one thing that makes this crazy world revolve and evolve. Blaming one person for everything....reminds me of grade school crap.
I have been working on and off temp jobs for the past year.
I have $150 to my name and am in constant fear of becoming homeless or loosing what little I have.
There are just no jobs out there and the temp jobs come and go so quickly without explaination...
I just feel so hopeless everyday.
I apply for litterally every job I see, but I never hear back.
I saw a job posting for a deli clerk online today and it said they receive hundreds of resumes everytime they post an ad.... This just tells me there are so many people desperate enough to take an $8 deli job.
I pray that another temp job comes thru soon for me or else I will be out on the streets living in my car.
The economy is so bad right now i fear there may be no jobs for the next several years.
Well kyle be thankful you have a $150 in your pocket some of us dont have that !
You are so full of crap! Nobody in America goes without a place to live or hungry! You are just a paid operative of big unions trying so hard to get people excited or feeling sorry for you.If tyou want to excite people take your fat ass down to some business that produces porn and see if they will hire you.You live with your mommy in her basement,you don't pay rent and she pays for all your food.You are likely on unemployment and never miss a chance to but another Apple product.So,give it uo!
mas098 who the fk are you talking to ??? cus i know damn well ya cant be telling me i live with my mommy ! ..
cus she is living in a glass jar in top of my china cabinet !
as for apple i could careless about your over priced junk !
i go pc and i build some damn good ones too
but even knowing how to do all that i am still hanging on by a gd thread with 3 kids and a whole $1.86 in my fking pocket ..
waiting for my water and gas to be shut off ! and no food money till the damn 10TH !
and let me tell you that is what being an american is these days !
Not sure where you live, but look at the "free" section on craigslist and see if you can score some free furniture, knick-knacks, junk, etc. Even if you get $10 to $20 dollars (by reselling the items) its pure profit.
If you have a truck, offer to pick up broken-down washers/dryers, fridges and take them to the recycling center and sell them for scrap metal (you can make about $12 per piece). Of course, this only works if you live in a decent-sized town or metropolitan area.
I made about $150 bucks last week by picking up a free (broken table which i fixed) and kitchen cart which I made look "antique" with sandpaper and cheap white paint.
Don't get bummed out. Keep looking for work. But don't under-estimate the "junk" people buy and (give away) on craigslist.
I dunno who you think you are maso98 but a lot of us are living $1 away from homelessness.
I do not live with my mommy or have an apple computer.
I try to just keep a roof over my head and some damn food in my fridge.
There is a homeless guy living in my back alley because there is no where else to go!
Until you are poor you won't understand.
If i was part of a union at least i would have a job!! D-bag.
I was watching C-Span this morning and there was some Democratic Politician speaking at some big Democrat convention who said that we must continue to blame Bush for the economy. When the entire crowd cheered for him, I decided it was time to change the channel.
and another part of the problem if we dont hear what we wanna hear then ignore it it will go away ... .. did that work for ya ??/
mswxyz - LOL! It's about personal responsibility. The Democrats can't seem to take responsibility for anything. That's a problem.