Tag Archives: part-time work

Nationally, job quality and wage growth continue to lag during recovery

AS noted yesterday, the BLS released the jobs report for September showing that the economy added 248,000 jobs while the unemployment rate (UER) dropped to a 6 year low of 5.9%. So that’s the good news–the economy continues to add jobs and is above pre-recession levels: Moreover, 2014 has shaped up to be (thus far) […]

How are businesses responding to the ACA?

THE impact of the ACA on the nation’s weak economic recovery continues to draw analysis and discussion.  One argument opponents of the ACA often make is that it is driving workers to cut hours and shift workers to part-time status.  To bolster this argument they often cite elevated levels in part-time employment.  While total part-time employment […]

More Data suggesting Weakness in Maine’s Labor Market

WHILE some labor market indicators for the state continue to improve, other data points to continuing weakness in Maine’s labor market.  While the unemployment rate for the state continued to decline, and the employment-population ratio remains relatively strong, the quality of jobs being created is weak. As MECEP highlighted last month, Maine has the 5th […]

Involuntary part-time work up during the recovery

There’s been a lot of discussion, criticism, and defense to Gov. Paul LePage’s economic record thus far.  One of the larger criticisms is that while the state’s unemployment rate continues to dip, as noted by some, Maine has the 5th highest rate of involuntary part-time work. (click images to enlarge) Unsurprisingly, that rate has increased since the […]

The ACA and Part-time Work

JUST prior to the recently published jobs report, the national GOP posted a press release on its website arguing, in part, that the ACA is pushing the economy into a part-time economy.  It’s an oft stated argument by the GOP and its members.  For instance, Maine Senator Susan Collins co-sponsored legislation that would change the definition of […]

June Jobs Report: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

AS noted previously, the national jobs report was released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Overall, the jobs report was positive, with the economy creating 288,000 jobs; well above projections of roughly 210,000.  This was the fifth consecutive month of job creation above 200,000, the first time that has happened since the tech […]