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69.8 percent of people who worked in 2021 worked full time, year round

December 15, 2022

A total of 166.8 million people worked at some point during 2021, up by 1.2 million from 2020. The proportion of workers who worked full time, year round (that is, 50 to 52 weeks) rose from 63.1 percent in 2020 to 69.8 percent in 2021. Among men who worked in 2021, 74.6 percent worked full time, year round, compared with 64.5 percent of women. Labor market conditions continued to improve in 2021, reflecting the resumption of economic activity that had been curtailed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to contain it.

Percent distribution of people who worked during the year by usual full- or part-time status and number of weeks worked, 2020–21
Extent of employment Total, 2020 Total, 2021 Men, 2020 Men, 2021 Women, 2020 Women, 2021

Total who worked during the year

100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Part time, 1 to 49 weeks

11.2 8.9 8.2 7.0 14.5 11.0

Part time, 50 to 52 weeks

7.9 9.3 5.5 6.4 10.5 12.6

Full time, 1 to 49 weeks

17.8 12.0 18.4 12.0 17.2 11.9

Full time, 50 to 52 weeks

63.1 69.8 67.9 74.6 57.8 64.5

Among those with work experience in 2021, 81.8 percent usually worked full time, up 0.9 percentage point from a year earlier. The proportion of men who usually worked full time increased by 0.4 percentage point in 2021 to 86.7 percent. The proportion of women working full time increased by 1.4 percentage points to 76.4 percent.

Of the total who worked during 2021, 79.1 percent were employed year round (working 50 to 52 weeks, either full or part time), up 8.1 percentage points from 2020. The share of men working year round increased to 81.0 percent in 2021, and the percentage of women working year round rose to 77.1 percent.

These data are from the Current Population Survey. For more information, see "Work Experience of the Population — 2021." Full time means 35 hours or more per week. Time worked includes paid vacation and sick leave.

SUGGESTED CITATION

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, The Economics Daily, 69.8 percent of people who worked in 2021 worked full time, year round at https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2022/69-8-percent-of-people-who-worked-in-2021-worked-full-time-year-round.htm (visited March 28, 2024).

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