Involuntary part-time workers in Britain: evidence from the labour force survey

an article by Surhan Cam (School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University) published in Industrial Relations Journal Volume 43 Issue 3 (May 2012)

Abstract

Part-time employment is widely considered functional for the economy, with both benign and detrimental implications for employees. However, specific analyses of involuntary part-time work in Britain are surprisingly absent from the flexibility debate, and workers in such positions remain largely under-researched.

This article explores involuntary part-time employment in relation to socio-economic circumstances.

We analyse Labour Force Survey data, using logistic regression modelling to identify the segments of workers filling part-time jobs involuntarily. The results suggest that involuntariness for part-time jobs is affected by a range of demographic and work-related characteristics considered.

Being a couple with dependent children, for example, reduces the likelihood of involuntariness among female part-time employees whereas lower educational and occupational levels imply a higher involuntariness across both sexes.

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