[New York Diary] Americans Seeking Part-Time Work

Part-Time Work on the Rise in the U.S.
More Americans Choose Flexible Hours for Family and Personal Life
Labor Market Shifts as Work-Life Balance Becomes a Priority

It happened recently at a cafe in Manhattan, New York. The conversation coming from the next table sounded unusual. After a brief personal check, the discussion moved on to the types of drinks one could make and the coffee machines they had operated. Curious, I turned my head and saw that it was an interview for a position at the cafe. After about 10 minutes, a young woman finished the interview and got up, and a relatively older woman immediately sat down in the same seat, continuing with similar answers. This woman, who said she had worked at a small company until a few years ago, stated, "I want to work part-time so I can freely use the afternoon hours after my children return from school."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Since the pandemic, many changes have been observed in the U.S. labor market. One of these is the sharp increase in Americans wanting part-time work. Of course, many have taken on part-time jobs for 'economic reasons,' such as supplementing household income due to soaring inflation. However, a clearly noticeable trend in the data is the surge in those choosing part-time work voluntarily, for family or personal reasons. The U.S. Department of Labor categorizes this as 'non-economic reasons.'

According to the Department of Labor's May employment report released earlier this month, the number of Americans working part-time voluntarily for non-economic reasons reached 21.8 million. This is a 5% increase compared to a year ago. The number of workers voluntarily working part-time was six times higher than those who wanted full-time jobs but were working part-time. Before COVID-19, this ratio was between 3:1 and 5:1, but it has recently jumped to the highest level in 20 years.

Local economists cite changes in perceptions of work after the pandemic and the still-tight labor market as reasons for the increase in part-time workers.

Forbes diagnosed that people exhausted by burnout, childcare, and caregiving after the pandemic are stepping away from competition within companies to seek other values. According to a survey conducted by Gartner at the end of 2021, 65% of respondents said the pandemic caused them to reevaluate their work life. Time also reported, citing economists like Ronnie Golden from Penn State Abington who study part-time labor, that people have come to prefer balancing work and life by finding happiness through leisure activities and time with friends or family.

Especially despite over a year of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) aggressive tightening, the still-strong U.S. labor market has created an environment where job seekers can strongly demand the working conditions they want. As of April, the U.S. job openings ratio stood at 1.8. This means there are 1.8 job vacancies for every unemployed person. Amid the labor shortage, job changes and hiring have become easier, and wages have also risen. For job seekers, this has become an opportunity to expand work flexibility.

Experts diagnose that this trend is unlikely to revert to the past, despite the long-standing disadvantages of part-time work such as relatively low wages and lack of insurance. Changes are also seen among companies. Jeffrey Kozenik, chief economist at Fifth Third Commercial Bank, said employers are recognizing that a steady supply of abundant labor may no longer be guaranteed as before, and are expanding the option of part-time work instead of full-time.

Perhaps this is a scene possible only because the U.S. has a surplus of jobs. However, changes in perceptions of work after the pandemic are also being observed in Korea. This is why future changes in work systems will inevitably focus on the quality of life of each individual citizen.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.