RECENT TRENDS IN PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT

This study analyzes trends in part-time employment in the United States for 1964-1993. The conventional wisdom holds that a permanent shift has occurred toward part-time employment-particularly involuntary part-time jobs-in recent years. The data show a cyclical increase during the latest recession, but no upward trend since 1984. A concurrent boom in temporary agency employment suggests a confusion between "part-time" and "temporary" jobs. Copyright 1996 Western Economic Association International.