"This article deals with part-time work and involuntary part-time work in four private service sectors in Finland from the employee's perspective and examining the employers' reasons for using part-time work. According to statistical analyses, women, young people and low-skilled workers have a greater probability of working as part-timers. Temporary and on-call workers also have a higher probability of working as part-timers than permanent workers do. The sector and the size of the firm also influence part-time working. As for involuntary part-time working women, the middle-aged and those with low education have a higher probability of working as involuntary part-timers. Not surprisingly, a larger share of involuntary part-timers would like to work more hours and also search for a new job. They have fewer other sources of income than all the part-timers. The involuntariness of part-time work is also related to the subsistence this kind of work can provide. Employers see reasons of cost and profitability and the peaks in the need for labour as important reasons for using part-time work, which may also prevent the workers' wishes concerning working hours and the part-time work that firms can offer from coinciding."

Support: Paper