In a recent social media post, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that all of the country’s recent job gains have come from increases in part-time positions. However, a closer look at the data reveals that this statement does not tell the whole story.
Kennedy’s assertion was made on March 31 on Twitter, where he accused the federal government of distorting economic data by highlighting job growth that was “ENTIRELY part-time jobs.” While it is true that from February 2023 to February 2024, the net increase in part-time jobs exceeded the net increase in total jobs, experts caution against focusing on just one specific time period.
Economists point out that the federal government uses two different surveys to measure employment – one from businesses and one from households. While the business survey is trusted for measuring total employment due to its larger sample size, the household survey provides valuable insights into the breakdown of full-time and part-time employment. When looking at the total employment figure from the household survey, it becomes clear that part-time employment has not accounted for all job gains during Joe Biden’s presidency.
From February 2021 to February 2024, overall employment rose by 10.8 million, while part-time employment increased by less than 2.9 million. This means that part-time jobs have only accounted for about a quarter of the overall job growth during Biden’s tenure, debunking Kennedy’s claim that all job gains have been in part-time positions.
Moreover, it is important to note that not all part-time employment is a negative indicator for the economy. Federal data distinguishes between people working part-time for economic reasons and those working part-time by choice. While an increase in the former group may be concerning as it indicates individuals who want full-time work but cannot find it, the latter group often includes students, parents, retirees, and individuals seeking a better work-life balance.
Economist Lonnie Golden from Penn State University highlights that voluntary part-time workers often report higher levels of health, happiness with work, and satisfaction with work schedules compared to full-time workers or those working part-time out of economic necessity. Additionally, the number of new part-time jobs taken out of economic necessity is a distinct minority, with part-time jobs for economic reasons accounting for fewer than 1 in 6 part-time positions since the second half of 2021.
In conclusion, while Kennedy’s statement that all recent job gains have come from part-time positions is partially accurate for a specific time period, it overlooks crucial information about the overall job market trends during Biden’s presidency. Part-time employment, when chosen voluntarily, can be a positive aspect of the labor market, providing individuals with flexibility and satisfaction in their work. Therefore, it is essential to consider the full context of the data before drawing conclusions about the state of the economy.
