Women Carry Weight Of Under-Employment Trend
PRINCETON, NJ -- Underemployment, as measured by Gallup, is 18.3% in mid-August, essentially unchanged since the end of June. Underemployment peaked at 20.4% in April but has not been able to break below its current level this year.
Gallup's underemployment measure estimates the percentages of American workers who are either unemployed or working part time but wanting full-time work. It is based on more than 15,000 phone interviews with U.S. adults aged 18 and older in the workforce, collected over a 30-day period and reported daily and weekly. Gallup's results are not seasonally adjusted and tend to be a precursor of government reports by approximately two weeks. Unemployment Up; Part-Time Employees Wanting Full-Time Work Down The percentage of employees working part time but wanting full-time work declined slightly in mid-August to 9.2% from 9.5% at the end of July -- returning to its late June and mid-July level. This drop was largely offset by a slight uptick to 9.1% in the unemployment rate component of Gallup's underemployment measure. Among subgroups in the U.S. workforce, Gallup finds: Job Hope Hits New 2010 High Forty-five percent of underemployed Americans are "hopeful" in mid-August that they will be able to find a job in the next four weeks -- the highest level of 2010. Job Market Conditions Affect More Than the Underemployed It is encouraging that more of the underemployed are "hopeful" of finding a job now than has been true at any other time this year -- and something job hunters should keep in mind in this difficult job market. Additionally, Gallup's Job Creation Index shows that some employers are continuing to hire, although their hiring appears to be having little impact on overall underemployment this summer. To some degree, these new job gains are being offset by job losses. Further, this is the season for hiring, meaning more jobs may be available than the seasonally adjusted economic data reported by the government might imply. Regardless, Gallup data also show that today's dismal job market conditions are having a major psychological impact on Americans who are currently employed -- not just the 18.3% underemployed. While these percentages are down slightly from last year's peaks, they probably explain why so many Americans continue to say they are cutting back on their spending. They also show why so many small-business owners are worried about their revenues and cash flows in the months ahead. Getting Americans back to work is essential, not only to help the underemployed, but also to reduce the job fears of all Americans -- and get the American consumer spending once more. Gallup Daily tracking will provide continuous monitoring of the jobs situation in the weeks and months ahead.
