As traditional working models continue to evolve, attitudes towards part-time work are changing.
For some, it’s all about work-life balance or health, others are focused on upskilling or even in formal education. For many more part-timers, it’s about balancing care and home responsibilities.
Whatever the reason, there has been a noted shift since 2022, according to a
recent report, which tracked the share of job postings that are full-time and part-time since 2020.
3 jobs hiring this week:
- Field Sales Consultant - Self-Employed, SumUp, Manchester
- Software Developer/Back End Engineer, Pharmacy2U Ltd, Leeds (£45,000- £55,000)
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As of May 2024, 62.3% of all job postings analysed were for specifically full-time roles, while part-time postings represented 31.7% of the total.
This marks a significant shift from previous years. Though part-time postings are up just 2.5% from May 2022, advertisements for part-time workers began to rise in early 2022, and this has largely remained at an elevated level ever since, hovering at around
10% above pre-2022 norms.
Interestingly, job postings that indicate both full-time and part-time options account for 12.7% of all listings, suggesting that employers are increasingly open to flexible working arrangements.
It’s also worth noting that in many cases the growth in part-time options has come at the expense of full-time job postings.
Industry focus
While the trend towards part-time work is widespread, it's not uniform across all industries.
Those seeking part-time arrangements are more likely to find opportunities in sectors such as beauty and wellness, personal care and home health, retail, food preparation and service, and sports. Conversely, industries such as insurance, legal, childcare,
accounting, and construction tend to maintain a preference for full-time roles.
While the specific drivers of the trend towards more part-time work are complex, several factors may be at play. One possibility is that employers are offering more flexible options to attract workers in a competitive labour market.
This is particularly relevant in the fintech sector, where the demand for skilled professionals often outstrips supply, and job postings are often advertised for “contractor, full-time or part-time”, which casts a broader net.
Recently, the US stock market fall sparked concerns that America might soon head into a recession, and though the risk of a UK recession isn’t deemed particularly high right now, many companies will hedge their bets regardless.
In times of economic uncertainty, organisations are typically more cautious about committing to full-time hires, and instead opt for the flexibility that part-time and contractors provide.
However, these drivers were not explicitly examined in the report, and further research would be needed to definitively determine the causes of this shift.
The downsides
More downtime sounds fabulous, but like anything, part-time work has its drawbacks.
Shifting towards a part-time role may affect your financial stability, career progression, and you may have less visibility in a company, and consequently, have weakened job security.
Oftentimes, part-time workers find themselves doing the same amount of work as full-time colleagues, only they must complete their work in compressed hours with little slack. This can be intense and stressful on work days.
As you daydream of how you’d spend your days off, do consider how moving to a part-time role aligns with your long-term career goals, family priorities, and financial needs before making a firm decision.
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