Why more Americans are stuck in jobs they don’t want

Why more Americans are stuck in jobs they don’t want

The US unemployment rate remains relatively low at 4.3 percent, but broader measures show more distress. In August, the “underemployment” rate—which counts part-time workers who want full-time jobs and those too discouraged to keep looking—hit 8.1 percent, the highest in nearly four years. Economists say one in four job seekers has now been unemployed for six months or longer, compared with one in five a year ago, the Wall Street Journal reported.

From tech to part-time survival

Anna Whitlock, 36, lost her job as a project manager at a tech company nearly a year ago. Since then, she has applied for hundreds of roles ranging from administrative assistants to grocery store clerks. After repeated rejections, she now works part-time as a nanny in Yakima, Washington, earning $20 an hour—far less than her previous salary with benefits. To get by, she has relied on unemployment assistance and food stamps while still searching for stable employment.

Employers shift to part-time roles

Rather than broad layoffs, many companies are managing higher labour costs by cutting hours. According to LinkedIn, postings for part-time jobs have surged by 50 percent in the past three years. This has left many workers cobbling together multiple part-time roles, often without benefits, retirement savings, or clear career paths. The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book notes that some people are now working two or three jobs just to cover basic expenses.

Confidence hits new lows

The slowdown is also reshaping attitudes toward work. In July, for the first time in four years, the number of unemployed workers exceeded job openings, reflecting hesitation by firms to hire. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey found workers’ confidence in finding new jobs if they lost their current ones dropped to its lowest level since the survey began in 2013. Hiring and quitting rates also stagnated, signalling reduced mobility in the labour market.

Personal setbacks and stalled careers

James Reynolds, a 34-year-old software engineer, quit a job he disliked in June expecting to find something better. Instead, he now earns $18 an hour working part-time at a sandwich shop in Denver, struggling to replace his previous six-figure salary. Kristal Andersen, 44, who holds a doctorate in education, lost her full-time academic position when her university closed. Despite sending out more than 400 applications for roles ranging from teaching to retail, she continues to work only part-time.

Outlook for workers

Economists warn that if the hiring slowdown persists, more Americans will face the same dilemma—taking the jobs they can find rather than the ones they want. For many, the shift from stable, full-time employment to lower-paid, temporary roles threatens long-term financial security and household stability. While millions still choose part-time work voluntarily, the growing number of involuntary part-timers highlights the uneven nature of today’s labour market recovery.