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date: 11 May 2009

embargo: 00.01hrs Tuesday 12 May 2009

One in nine part-time workers cannot find full-time jobs

With figures out tomorrow expected to show unemployment on course to hit 2.5 million by the summer, a TUC analysis of official statistics published today (Tuesday) has found that one in nine (11.2 per cent) people in part-time work are only doing so because they cannot find full-time jobs.

The TUC has found that the number of involuntary part-time workers has increased sharply over the last two years to 829,000 - the highest figure since May 1994.

The growth of involuntary part-time work reflects the lengths that people are going to in order to stay in work, says the TUC.

The lack of full-time work is demonstrated in jobcentres across the UK, with Government statistics showing that over one in four (27 per cent) vacancies are for less than 16 hours a week.

The majority of involuntary part-time workers are female (451,000 women compared to 378,000 men) reflecting the fact that around 80 per cent of the UK's part-time workforce are women.

However, one in five (21.2 per cent) men working part-time are doing so because they cannot secure full-time unemployment, compared to less than one in ten (9.6 per cent) part-time women.

The TUC warns that people moving to part-time work often face a double pay penalty. They are unable to work enough hours and average hourly pay rates for part-time work are so poor. Women working part-time earn 36.6 per cent less per hour than men working full-time. Men working part-time earn 27 per cent less than full-time male equivalents.

The TUC believes the growth of involuntary part-time work emphasises the need for more high quality part-time job opportunities. The pay and career penalties associated with part-time jobs must be tackled if the gender pay gap is to closed and the UK economy cannot afford to have more people not fully using their skills, says the TUC.

Tomorrow's unemployment figures and the lack of full-time work should serve as a reminder for the Government to focus on retaining and creating new jobs in order to get Britain out of recession, says the TUC.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'As unemployment rises, people are doing whatever they can to stay in work. But while part-time work is better than no work at all, people will be shocked by the pitiful pay rates on offer - a disgrace that millions of women have suffered for many years.

'Today's unemployment figures will serve as another reminder that the Government must take strong action now to tackle job losses.

'Since the Budget the Government has focused much of its energy on efficiency savings. But while it's important to get public finances under control, cutting public spending will not get us out of recession.

'People are far more concerned about their jobs, and tackling unemployment is the only way to get our economy motoring again.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- According to Government statistics (www.cesi.org.uk/statistics) in March 2009, 27 per cent of Jobcentre Plus vacancies were for jobs under 16 hours a week.

- The TUC recently launched a package of support for workers who have been made redundant, or are at risk of redundancy or of losing their homes due to the economic downturn. The package includes two new free booklets - Coping with the Economic Downturn and Facing Redundancy - as well as updated information about redundancies, how to use JobCentre Plus, how to look for a new job, and what training and benefits individuals are entitled to on www.worksmart.org.uk the TUC's website for people at work. The website has downloads of both leaflets, and contains questions and answers on all aspects of redundancy.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports from the TUC. Visit www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (700 words) issued 12 May 2009