Part-timers skyrocket as permanent jobs dry up

THE NUMBER of men doing part-time work because they cannot find a full-time job has more than doubled in the last four years, according to a new study.

The TUC said almost 600,000 men were working part-time in December while looking for full-time positions, compared to 293,000 at the end of 2007.

Latest official figures have shown that 1.4 million workers and self-employed people work part-time because they cannot find full-time employment, the highest figure since records began in 1992.

The report, published ahead of the latest unemployment figures today, also revealed that the number of women working in involuntary part-time jobs has more than doubled in London and Northern Ireland over the past four years.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Last month’s fall in unemployment was a welcome surprise. No-one should be under any illusion however that the jobs crisis is over.

“Virtually all employment growth is coming from part-time and temporary jobs but most of the people taking them want and need permanent, full-time work.”

Areas of the UK with the most people doing part-time work because they cannot find full-time jobs include London (198,000), the North West (152,000), and the South East (141,000).