Record numbers having to take on part time work

February 2nd, 2010 | by Admin |

Recent figures have shown that record numbers of people in the UK have had to take on part time work through the recession as a result of being unable to get any full time employment. Whilst the rising number of people taking on part time work has helped to bring unemployment figures down for many of these workers the hours that they are working are not bringing in adequate income to continue keeping on top of their bills, rent or mortgage, and financial commitments.

Over one million workers polled as part of a recent official survey said that they had been forced to take on part time work because they simply could not find any full time employment. In the past twelve months 280,000 have been forced to take on part time work due to a lack of full time employment opportunities, and this figure has taken the total of part time workers in Britain to an all time high.

The figures were released by the Office for National Statistics, and show that whilst the number of part time workers has increased to a record high of 7.7 million the number of full time workers has fallen by nearly 600,000 over the past year.

Many industry experts have said that the worrying trends are mostly due to the recession, which has been the longest one on record and resulted in masses of job losses as well as increased difficulties for those that had already been looking for employment.

A spokesperson from the Liberal Democrats stated: ‘This is the hidden unemployment, from top City solicitors to people working in factories. They are being forced to go part-time and having their pay slashed.’

The Department for Work and Pensions has also said that unemployment numbers could increase further over the coming year.

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