Employment

'Underemployment'

New figures released by the Institute for Public Policy Research (ippr) reveal that there has been a 45% increase in the number of people working part-time because they cant find full time work since the recession began.

Whilst many people prefer to work part-time due to family commitments and lifestyle choices, the analysis conducted by ippr suggests that there are over 1 million people working part-time hours because they have been unable to secure full time employment, leaving many people unable to work enough hours to bring in sufficient income.

ippr describe this trend as a hidden phenomenon whilst we are inundated with information about the latest unemployment figures, it is clear that underemployment is also a problem which should be high on the Governments agenda. One in five involuntary part-time workers is aged between 16 and 24, meaning that the long-term employment prospects of young people may be badly affected by this growing trend, not to mention the negative impact on the future earning potential for employees of all ages. Indeed, ippr have estimated that underemployment results in approximately 9 billion in terms of lost earnings and benefits.

To combat this problem, the ippr suggests that employers should be required to offer more flexible full time positions, thus encouraging people with caring commitments to take up full time roles. The extension of the right to request flexible working arrangements to all employees is certainly a move towards this.

Are you currently underemployed? Would the extension of the right to request flexible working arrangements assist you in securing full time employment?