part-time

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A part-time job is a form of employment that carries fewer hours per week than a full-time job. Workers are considered to be part-time if they commonly work fewer than 30 or 35 hours per week.^[1] According to the International Labour Organization, the number of part-time workers has increased from one-fourth to a half in the past 20 years in most developed countries, excluding the United States.^[1] There are many reasons for working part-time, including the desire to do so, having one's hours cut back by an employer and being unable to find a full-time job.

"Part-time" can also be used in reference to a student (usually in higher education) who takes only a few courses, rather than a full load of coursework each semester.

In Canada

In Canada, part-time workers are those who usually work less than 30 hours per week at their main or only job.^[2] In 2007, just over 1 in every 10 employees aged 25 to 54 worked part-time. A person who has a part-time placement is often contracted to a company or business in which they have a set of terms they agree with.

In the United States

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, working part-time is defined as working between 1 and 35 hours per week.^[3] In 2007, 32.4 million Americans worked part-time, approximately two-thirds of whom were women. Less than one fifth of part-time workers were forced to do so for economic reasons.^[4]

Typically, part-time employees in the United States are not entitled to employee benefits, such as health insurance.

In Asia

Arubaito (JPN:アルバイト^?) or Arubaitu (KOR: 아르바이트) is a common term used in East Asia to refer to a part-time job. The word is a rendering of the German noun "Arbeit" (work).

External links to statistics on part-time employment

Worldwide

• The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has Full-Time/Part-Time Employment Statistics and Incidence Rates for select nations, based on national definitions.

Europe

• Eurostat has data on part-time employment by sex, age group, economic activity, occupation as well as information on the reason for taking up part-time work, and whether or not if it is voluntary for its member states.

Canada

Monthly situation

• Labour force survey estimates (LFS), part-time employment by reason for part-time work, sex and age group, unadjusted for seasonality

Annual situation

• Labour force survey estimates (LFS), part-time employment by reason for part-time work, sex and age group
• Part-time employment rates
• Reason for working part-time

United States

Monthly situation

• Employed persons by class of worker and part-time status
• Employed persons by class of worker and part-time status, seasonally adjusted

Annual situation

• Employed and unemployed full- and part-time workers by age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
• Persons at work 1 to 34 hours in all and in nonagricultural industries by reason for working less than 35 hours and usual full- or part-time status

References