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Number of involuntary part-time workers decreased by 453,000 in January 2026
February 17, 2026
The number of people employed part time for economic reasons, also called involuntary part-time workers, decreased by 453,000 to 4.9 million in January 2026, but increased by 410,000 over the year. These individuals would have preferred full-time employment but were working part time because their hours had been reduced or they were unable to find full-time jobs.
Number of people employed part time for economic reasons, January 2021 to January 2026
Month
Total
Slack work or business conditions
Could only find part-time work
Jan 2021
5,948,000
4,739,000
989,000
Feb 2021
6,066,000
4,698,000
1,109,000
Mar 2021
5,784,000
4,568,000
1,011,000
Apr 2021
5,222,000
4,006,000
979,000
May 2021
5,245,000
3,995,000
1,010,000
Jun 2021
4,651,000
3,505,000
1,042,000
Jul 2021
4,455,000
3,010,000
1,094,000
Aug 2021
4,456,000
3,211,000
992,000
Sep 2021
4,476,000
3,189,000
989,000
Oct 2021
4,414,000
3,119,000
964,000
Nov 2021
4,301,000
2,885,000
1,105,000
Dec 2021
3,949,000
2,556,000
1,076,000
Jan 2022
3,720,000
2,383,000
939,000
Feb 2022
4,105,000
2,687,000
1,067,000
Mar 2022
4,137,000
2,829,000
1,063,000
Apr 2022
4,013,000
2,639,000
1,071,000
May 2022
4,314,000
3,011,000
1,004,000
Jun 2022
3,652,000
2,417,000
903,000
Jul 2022
3,934,000
2,739,000
887,000
Aug 2022
4,131,000
2,797,000
959,000
Sep 2022
3,869,000
2,622,000
953,000
Oct 2022
3,676,000
2,541,000
853,000
Nov 2022
3,718,000
2,529,000
838,000
Dec 2022
3,891,000
2,631,000
922,000
Jan 2023
4,042,000
2,668,000
992,000
Feb 2023
4,042,000
2,819,000
846,000
Mar 2023
4,076,000
2,837,000
901,000
Apr 2023
3,882,000
2,751,000
820,000
May 2023
3,734,000
2,587,000
841,000
Jun 2023
4,218,000
2,947,000
973,000
Jul 2023
4,009,000
2,755,000
1,012,000
Aug 2023
4,215,000
2,836,000
1,027,000
Sep 2023
4,088,000
2,837,000
949,000
Oct 2023
4,293,000
2,997,000
1,005,000
Nov 2023
4,008,000
2,766,000
941,000
Dec 2023
4,223,000
2,948,000
972,000
Jan 2024
4,418,000
2,981,000
1,042,000
Feb 2024
4,349,000
2,839,000
1,106,000
Mar 2024
4,293,000
2,959,000
1,010,000
Apr 2024
4,457,000
3,050,000
1,141,000
May 2024
4,416,000
3,089,000
1,033,000
Jun 2024
4,236,000
2,844,000
1,185,000
Jul 2024
4,569,000
3,008,000
1,218,000
Aug 2024
4,828,000
3,327,000
1,160,000
Sep 2024
4,643,000
3,035,000
1,316,000
Oct 2024
4,566,000
3,034,000
1,178,000
Nov 2024
4,463,000
3,121,000
1,034,000
Dec 2024
4,361,000
2,866,000
1,187,000
Jan 2025
4,478,000
2,894,000
1,200,000
Feb 2025
4,923,000
3,286,000
1,264,000
Mar 2025
4,771,000
3,153,000
1,253,000
Apr 2025
4,686,000
3,146,000
1,265,000
May 2025
4,624,000
3,009,000
1,376,000
Jun 2025
4,473,000
3,111,000
1,171,000
Jul 2025
4,689,000
3,040,000
1,289,000
Aug 2025
4,755,000
3,069,000
1,332,000
Sep 2025
4,594,000
3,129,000
1,200,000
Oct 2025
—
—
—
Nov 2025
5,487,000
3,445,000
1,650,000
Dec 2025
5,341,000
3,436,000
1,514,000
Jan 2026
4,888,000
3,219,000
1,357,000
Note: Detail for the seasonally adjusted data shown in this table may not add to totals because of the independent seasonal adjustment of the various series. Data for October 2025 were not collected due to the federal government shutdown.
Slack work or business conditions was the primary reason for the over-the-year increase in the number of people working part time for economic reasons. The number of people whose hours were reduced due to slack work or business conditions was 3.2 million in January 2026, up 325,000 from one year ago. The number of people who could only find part-time work changed little over the month and over the year at 1.4 million.
These data are from the Current Population Survey and are seasonally adjusted. For more information, see “The Employment Situation — January 2026.” We also have more charts on employment and unemployment. People at work part time for economic reasons include those who worked 1 to 34 hours during the reference week for an economic reason such as slack work or unfavorable business conditions, inability to find full-time work, or seasonal declines in demand.
United States Department of Labor
