ERIC Number: ED147643
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1977-Aug-31
Pages: 125
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
An Empirical Analysis of the Voluntary Part-Time Labor Market.
Owen, John D.
The part-time job market now employs about 12.5 million persons who are voluntary part timers--those who customarily work one to thirty-four hours a week on their own volition. Data from the Current Population Survey (March-May, 1973) was used to examine the cross-sectional distribution of the employment and wages of part timers, and an analysis was done to determine the principal factors of supply and demand. An intersectoral model of the supply and demand of part timers was used (process of which is described in this report) to explore interactions between differences in the reward to part timers and in the utilization of part timers. Findings include that part timers are paid much less than full timers, due primarily to the employment of part-time workers in low wage sectors of the economy. The statistical analysis supported the view that there is a large market for part timers, which serves both the economy and the marginal members of the work force. However, employers are generally unwilling to train or promote part timers and those with high level credentials are usually barred from upward mobility. Conclusions and policy implications included that the part-time labor market serves a very useful purpose in providing jobs for millions of persons who might not otherwise find employment, and since the part-time market is very diverse, regulating it by means of quotas as advocated by some federal and private sectors would be a rather inefficient proposition. (BL)
Descriptors: Economic Research, Employees, Employment Patterns, Employment Practices, Employment Problems, Labor Economics, Labor Force, Labor Market, Labor Needs, Labor Supply, Labor Utilization, Mathematical Models, Part Time Employment, Wages
National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Manpower Administration (DOL), Washington, DC. Office of Research and Development.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A