Number of persons employed involuntarily part time, by reason, 1994–2016
| Date | Total involuntary part time | Could find only part time | Slack work |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-01-01 | 4.9 | 2.1 | 2.5 |
| 1994-02-01 | 4.7 | 2.0 | 2.3 |
| 1994-03-01 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| 1994-04-01 | 4.8 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 1994-05-01 | 4.8 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| 1994-06-01 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 2.5 |
| 1994-07-01 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1994-08-01 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1994-09-01 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1994-10-01 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| 1994-11-01 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1994-12-01 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1995-01-01 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| 1995-02-01 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1995-03-01 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| 1995-04-01 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2.4 |
| 1995-05-01 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| 1995-06-01 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| 1995-07-01 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| 1995-08-01 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 2.6 |
| 1995-09-01 | 4.6 | 1.7 | 2.5 |
| 1995-10-01 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 2.6 |
| 1995-11-01 | 4.5 | 1.7 | 2.6 |
| 1995-12-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-01-01 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 1996-02-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-03-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-04-01 | 4.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-05-01 | 4.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| 1996-06-01 | 4.3 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| 1996-07-01 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 2.5 |
| 1996-08-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-09-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| 1996-10-01 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| 1996-11-01 | 4.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
| 1996-12-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| 1997-01-01 | 4.2 | 1.6 | 2.3 |
| 1997-02-01 | 4.2 | 1.5 | 2.4 |
| 1997-03-01 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 2.3 |
| 1997-04-01 | 4.4 | 1.6 | 2.4 |
| 1997-05-01 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| 1997-06-01 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| 1997-07-01 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 1997-08-01 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 1997-09-01 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 1997-10-01 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 2.2 |
| 1997-11-01 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 2.3 |
| 1997-12-01 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| 1998-01-01 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| 1998-02-01 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| 1998-03-01 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 2.2 |
| 1998-04-01 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 2.1 |
| 1998-05-01 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 |
| 1998-06-01 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 |
| 1998-07-01 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 2.3 |
| 1998-08-01 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| 1998-09-01 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 1.9 |
| 1998-10-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 1998-11-01 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 1.9 |
| 1998-12-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| 1999-01-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 1999-02-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 1999-03-01 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 2.0 |
| 1999-04-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 1999-05-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| 1999-06-01 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 2.1 |
| 1999-07-01 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 2.0 |
| 1999-08-01 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| 1999-09-01 | 3.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| 1999-10-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 1999-11-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 1999-12-01 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 2000-01-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 2000-02-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 2000-03-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 2000-04-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 2000-05-01 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 2.0 |
| 2000-06-01 | 3.2 | 1.0 | 1.9 |
| 2000-07-01 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 1.9 |
| 2000-08-01 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.0 |
| 2000-09-01 | 3.2 | 0.8 | 2.1 |
| 2000-10-01 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 1.9 |
| 2000-11-01 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 2.2 |
| 2000-12-01 | 3.2 | 0.9 | 2.0 |
| 2001-01-01 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 |
| 2001-02-01 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 |
| 2001-03-01 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.0 |
| 2001-04-01 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 2.1 |
| 2001-05-01 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 2.2 |
| 2001-06-01 | 3.8 | 1.1 | 2.4 |
| 2001-07-01 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 |
| 2001-08-01 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 2.1 |
| 2001-09-01 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 2.9 |
| 2001-10-01 | 4.4 | 1.1 | 3.0 |
| 2001-11-01 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 2.9 |
| 2001-12-01 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 2002-01-01 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| 2002-02-01 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 2.8 |
| 2002-03-01 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| 2002-04-01 | 4.2 | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| 2002-05-01 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| 2002-06-01 | 4.0 | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| 2002-07-01 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 2.8 |
| 2002-08-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 2002-09-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2002-10-01 | 4.3 | 1.1 | 2.9 |
| 2002-11-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2002-12-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 2003-01-01 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 2003-02-01 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 3.2 |
| 2003-03-01 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 3.1 |
| 2003-04-01 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 3.2 |
| 2003-05-01 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 3.1 |
| 2003-06-01 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 3.2 |
| 2003-07-01 | 4.6 | 1.3 | 3.2 |
| 2003-08-01 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 2003-09-01 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 3.1 |
| 2003-10-01 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
| 2003-11-01 | 4.9 | 1.4 | 3.2 |
| 2003-12-01 | 4.8 | 1.3 | 3.2 |
| 2004-01-01 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 2.9 |
| 2004-02-01 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 2.9 |
| 2004-03-01 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 3.0 |
| 2004-04-01 | 4.6 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
| 2004-05-01 | 4.6 | 1.5 | 2.8 |
| 2004-06-01 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
| 2004-07-01 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 2.7 |
| 2004-08-01 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
| 2004-09-01 | 4.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
| 2004-10-01 | 4.8 | 1.4 | 3.1 |
| 2004-11-01 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 2.8 |
| 2004-12-01 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| 2005-01-01 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| 2005-02-01 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| 2005-03-01 | 4.4 | 1.5 | 2.7 |
| 2005-04-01 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 2.6 |
| 2005-05-01 | 4.3 | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| 2005-06-01 | 4.4 | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| 2005-07-01 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
| 2005-08-01 | 4.5 | 1.4 | 2.7 |
| 2005-09-01 | 4.7 | 1.4 | 2.9 |
| 2005-10-01 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| 2005-11-01 | 4.2 | 1.3 | 2.6 |
| 2005-12-01 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 2.6 |
| 2006-01-01 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 2.6 |
| 2006-02-01 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2006-03-01 | 4.0 | 1.2 | 2.5 |
| 2006-04-01 | 3.9 | 1.2 | 2.4 |
| 2006-05-01 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 2.7 |
| 2006-06-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2006-07-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2006-08-01 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2006-09-01 | 4.1 | 1.2 | 2.6 |
| 2006-10-01 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2006-11-01 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2006-12-01 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2007-01-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2007-02-01 | 4.2 | 1.2 | 2.7 |
| 2007-03-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2007-04-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2007-05-01 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 2.9 |
| 2007-06-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2007-07-01 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 2.8 |
| 2007-08-01 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 2007-09-01 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 2007-10-01 | 4.3 | 1.2 | 2.8 |
| 2007-11-01 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| 2007-12-01 | 4.6 | 1.2 | 3.1 |
| 2008-01-01 | 4.8 | 1.1 | 3.3 |
| 2008-02-01 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 3.3 |
| 2008-03-01 | 4.9 | 1.3 | 3.3 |
| 2008-04-01 | 5.2 | 1.3 | 3.6 |
| 2008-05-01 | 5.3 | 1.3 | 3.6 |
| 2008-06-01 | 5.5 | 1.4 | 3.9 |
| 2008-07-01 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 4.3 |
| 2008-08-01 | 5.9 | 1.4 | 4.2 |
| 2008-09-01 | 6.1 | 1.6 | 4.3 |
| 2008-10-01 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 4.8 |
| 2008-11-01 | 7.3 | 1.6 | 5.4 |
| 2008-12-01 | 8.0 | 1.6 | 6.0 |
| 2009-01-01 | 8.0 | 1.7 | 6.0 |
| 2009-02-01 | 8.8 | 1.8 | 6.6 |
| 2009-03-01 | 9.1 | 1.8 | 7.0 |
| 2009-04-01 | 8.9 | 1.8 | 6.8 |
| 2009-05-01 | 9.1 | 1.9 | 6.8 |
| 2009-06-01 | 9.0 | 2.1 | 6.8 |
| 2009-07-01 | 8.9 | 1.9 | 6.9 |
| 2009-08-01 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 6.8 |
| 2009-09-01 | 8.8 | 2.0 | 6.5 |
| 2009-10-01 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 6.7 |
| 2009-11-01 | 9.1 | 2.2 | 6.6 |
| 2009-12-01 | 9.1 | 2.3 | 6.4 |
| 2010-01-01 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 6.0 |
| 2010-02-01 | 8.9 | 2.3 | 6.3 |
| 2010-03-01 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 6.4 |
| 2010-04-01 | 9.2 | 2.5 | 6.3 |
| 2010-05-01 | 8.8 | 2.3 | 6.2 |
| 2010-06-01 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 6.1 |
| 2010-07-01 | 8.5 | 2.3 | 6.1 |
| 2010-08-01 | 8.8 | 2.3 | 6.2 |
| 2010-09-01 | 9.2 | 2.4 | 6.4 |
| 2010-10-01 | 8.8 | 2.5 | 6.0 |
| 2010-11-01 | 8.9 | 2.5 | 6.0 |
| 2010-12-01 | 8.9 | 2.5 | 6.0 |
| 2011-01-01 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 5.8 |
| 2011-02-01 | 8.5 | 2.5 | 5.7 |
| 2011-03-01 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 5.8 |
| 2011-04-01 | 8.7 | 2.5 | 5.7 |
| 2011-05-01 | 8.6 | 2.4 | 5.9 |
| 2011-06-01 | 8.4 | 2.5 | 5.7 |
| 2011-07-01 | 8.3 | 2.5 | 5.6 |
| 2011-08-01 | 8.8 | 2.7 | 5.8 |
| 2011-09-01 | 9.2 | 2.8 | 5.8 |
| 2011-10-01 | 8.7 | 2.5 | 5.7 |
| 2011-11-01 | 8.4 | 2.5 | 5.6 |
| 2011-12-01 | 8.2 | 2.4 | 5.4 |
| 2012-01-01 | 8.3 | 2.6 | 5.4 |
| 2012-02-01 | 8.2 | 2.4 | 5.5 |
| 2012-03-01 | 7.8 | 2.4 | 5.2 |
| 2012-04-01 | 7.9 | 2.4 | 5.2 |
| 2012-05-01 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 5.2 |
| 2012-06-01 | 8.1 | 2.5 | 5.3 |
| 2012-07-01 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 5.2 |
| 2012-08-01 | 8.0 | 2.5 | 5.3 |
| 2012-09-01 | 8.7 | 2.6 | 5.6 |
| 2012-10-01 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 5.1 |
| 2012-11-01 | 8.2 | 2.7 | 5.1 |
| 2012-12-01 | 7.9 | 2.6 | 5.0 |
| 2013-01-01 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 5.2 |
| 2013-02-01 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 5.2 |
| 2013-03-01 | 7.7 | 2.6 | 4.9 |
| 2013-04-01 | 7.9 | 2.5 | 5.1 |
| 2013-05-01 | 7.9 | 2.7 | 4.9 |
| 2013-06-01 | 8.1 | 2.6 | 5.1 |
| 2013-07-01 | 8.1 | 2.7 | 5.1 |
| 2013-08-01 | 7.8 | 2.6 | 4.8 |
| 2013-09-01 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 5.0 |
| 2013-10-01 | 8.0 | 2.6 | 5.0 |
| 2013-11-01 | 7.7 | 2.5 | 4.9 |
| 2013-12-01 | 7.8 | 2.6 | 4.8 |
| 2014-01-01 | 7.3 | 2.6 | 4.4 |
| 2014-02-01 | 7.2 | 2.7 | 4.3 |
| 2014-03-01 | 7.4 | 2.7 | 4.5 |
| 2014-04-01 | 7.5 | 2.6 | 4.5 |
| 2014-05-01 | 7.2 | 2.5 | 4.4 |
| 2014-06-01 | 7.5 | 2.7 | 4.4 |
| 2014-07-01 | 7.4 | 2.5 | 4.6 |
| 2014-08-01 | 7.2 | 2.6 | 4.2 |
| 2014-09-01 | 7.1 | 2.6 | 4.2 |
| 2014-10-01 | 7.1 | 2.4 | 4.2 |
| 2014-11-01 | 6.8 | 2.4 | 4.1 |
| 2014-12-01 | 6.8 | 2.4 | 4.0 |
| 2015-01-01 | 6.8 | 2.4 | 4.0 |
| 2015-02-01 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 3.8 |
| 2015-03-01 | 6.7 | 2.3 | 4.1 |
| 2015-04-01 | 6.5 | 2.3 | 3.9 |
| 2015-05-01 | 6.6 | 2.4 | 3.9 |
| 2015-06-01 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 3.9 |
| 2015-07-01 | 6.3 | 2.2 | 3.8 |
| 2015-08-01 | 6.5 | 2.2 | 3.8 |
| 2015-09-01 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 3.6 |
| 2015-10-01 | 5.8 | 2.2 | 3.3 |
| 2015-11-01 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 3.5 |
| 2015-12-01 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 3.5 |
| 2016-01-01 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 3.5 |
| 2016-02-01 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 3.6 |
| 2016-03-01 | 6.1 | 2.2 | 3.6 |
| 2016-04-01 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 3.7 |
| 2016-05-01 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 3.9 |
| 2016-06-01 | 5.8 | 2.1 | 3.4 |
| 2016-07-01 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 3.6 |
Note: Involuntary part-time workers are those classified as "part time for economic reasons" by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Slack work" refers to a reduction in hours in response to unfavorable business conditions.
Source: Author's analysis of basic monthly Current Population Survey microdata