Overemployment and Underemployment Mismatches in the US Work Force: The Preference to Exchange Income for Fewer Work Hours

61 Pages Posted: 24 May 2007

See all articles by Lonnie Golden

Lonnie Golden

Pennsylvania State University - Abington College; Economic Policy Institute; Project for Middle Class Renewal

Tesfayi Gebreselassie

ORC Worldwide

Abstract

Work hours mismatches among the employed are common. About 7 percent prefer fewer than their current work hours even if it means less income, while another 25 percent want more hours and income, virtually the same as in 1985. Overemployment is higher for women, whites, married, parents of young children, students, higher educated and those with long workweeks, in managerial-supervisory and health, law and science professional jobs and in the health and utility services industries.

Keywords: Hours of Work, Hours Constraints, Labor Supply, Overemployment, Underemployment

JEL Classification: J22, J23

Suggested Citation

Golden, Lonnie and Gebreselassie, Tesfayi, Overemployment and Underemployment Mismatches in the US Work Force: The Preference to Exchange Income for Fewer Work Hours. Monthly Labor Review, April 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=988217

Lonnie Golden (Contact Author)

Pennsylvania State University - Abington College ( email )

1600 Woodland Rd.
Abington, PA 19001
United States
215-881-7596 (Phone)
215-881-7333 (Fax)

Economic Policy Institute ( email )

1660 L Street NW, Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20036
United States

Project for Middle Class Renewal ( email )

1408 W. Gregory Dr.
Urbana, IL Champaign 61801
United States

Tesfayi Gebreselassie

ORC Worldwide ( email )

United States

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