200,000 jobs were created last year. Only 3 per cent were full-time

Thrugelmir

Jowo wrote: »

Such a shame that the culture is now for part-time work, because many employers want to save costs

Employers particularly in SME's increasingly recruit to fill a particular role or duty. Why pay somebody for a full week when the hours required are only 24 for instance.

Funnily enough many people are happy with this arrangement. Many NHS nursing staff opt for part time hours once they have a family.

Technology has reduced the time taken to perform many tasks. Particularly administrative. Where paper processing is a greatly simplfied task than 20 years ago.

Different era now. Adjust to change.

StevieJ

Strange, I know people who are looking for a part time job and they can only get a full time one

CLAPTON

obviously some people prefer to work part time
a parttime job may be better than no job at all

but unless one has partner with a fulltime job, it does make getting a mortgage virtually impossible or making savings or pension provision

nearlynew

If housing and other living costs weren't so high, part-time working for everyone would be a good way forward.

Jowo_2

nearlynew wrote: »

If housing and other living costs weren't so high, part-time working for everyone would be a good way forward.

But those in part-time work may find that tax credits, LHA and council tax benefits negate the need to work another 10 or 20 hours because it is actually not 'worth' it because the extra gross employment income they receive is eroded by tax, childcare costs, travel costs and so on.

PasturesNew

This hits single people most as they are the group with the least top ups and no 2nd income potential into the home.

I'd like everybody to work half time, giving us all loads of days off, but as has been said the high cost of housing prevents this being possible. Where I live it takes one full-time average female salary to pay the rent on a basic 1-bed flat, council tax, basic utilities, beans on toast all month. Nothing left over.

Council tax takes 10% of a takehome salary.

Thrugelmir

nearlynew wrote: »

If housing and other living costs weren't so high, part-time working for everyone would be a good way forward.

Maybe the way we're heading. Sharing the available work more fairly. A fairer distribution of wealth.

tomterm8

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Maybe the way we're heading. Sharing the available work more fairly. A fairer distribution of wealth.

I think it is pretty much a hangover from Labour policy. For the last decade, the government, intentionally or not, subsidized part time work, while putting more burdens on full time employers.

At the end of the day, for a lot of jobs, it is cheaper to fire the full time employee and hire two part time employees.

Maybe a good thing? Or a bad thing? But the effect of government policy, and not some mysterious social force.

Graham_Devon

I really don't see an issue here.

Can always cut your neighbours grass to make up for the lack of a full time job.

Thrugelmir

tomterm8 wrote: »

I think it is pretty much a hangover from Labour policy. For the last decade, the government, intentionally or not, subsidized part time work, while putting more burdens on full time employers.

At the end of the day, for a lot of jobs, it is cheaper to fire the full time employee and hire two part time employees.

Maybe a good thing? Or a bad thing? But the effect of government policy, and not some mysterious social force.

The work place has changed very rapidly. IBM launched the first PC in 1981. The internet became fully accessible in 1995.

In many industries the same number of people are no longer employed as 30 years ago. Finance is my industry and Companies employ a fraction of the staff now in this area.