News

Labor Day not the same for the underemployed

Posted September 05, 2010 11:00 pm

By Anna Marie Kukec

Mitch Goralczyk of Lombard ran the Niles and Chicago offices of Peter Troost Monuments before he was laid off in September 2008.

Forced to find something to help pay the bills, he landed a part-time job last November as a men's clothing salesman at Carson Pirie Scott at Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard. His annual income dropped from the $40,000-range to about half that, without benefits.

"I just want to get back in the door," Goralczyk said of returning to cemetery or memorial sales, a niche profession that helps grieving families.

So-called survival jobs are a lifeline for laid-off suburban workers, though they often mean trading a traditional 9-to-5 work day for something more fluid, including working on days like today. The flexibility suits Goralczyk because it allows him time to devote to searching for a job in his chosen field.

Others, like George Hyland of Arlington Heights, paid hourly in their new jobs, said taking holidays off cuts into their income. The Itasca company where he works on contract is closed today, but Hyland wants to be at work.

"Things are very tight right now," Hyland said. "We've cut all the corners you can cut in terms of spending. We've been living paycheck to paycheck, a real juggling act."

Goralczyk and Hyland are among the ranks of "involuntary part-time workers," a category the federal government describes as former full-time workers who are now working part-time in another field. There were 4.5 million such workers nationwide before the recession, but that figure doubled to about 9 million in early 2009 and has stubbornly continued at that same level. In August, involuntary part-timers numbered 8.9 million, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"This group has stabilized, which is not a good sign for the economy," said Heidi Shierholz, a labor economist with the Economist Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. "Technically, we're in a recovery, so we should be seeing that number come down."

While the plight of those in part-time survival jobs continues, employers are becoming more flexible as well. Businesses are hiring such workers and others who are volunteering to work on holidays, such as Labor Day. Accommodating these workers also helps boost their bottom line, experts said.

"The recession has definitely been playing into it," Carol Sladek, leader of the work life consulting unit of Lincolnshire-based Hewitt Associates, said about working part-time jobs and holidays. "As the economy gets better, some employees may not feel the need to work on holidays."

While the underemployed are being forced to take jobs out of their fields and work on holidays, it has one advantage. It helps networking, said Joy Dooley, who leads job-search groups at the Lisle Township Job Club.

"We had one woman who was an engineer at a technology company, who did nails (at a salon) on the side, so when she was laid off from her engineering job, she called the salon to do more hours. It just makes sense," Dooley said. "We're all rethinking how we work."

Bruce M. Cruz of Arlington Heights was a business systems analyst making about $65,000 annually for a major credit corporation until January 2009, when he was let go. He hit the ground running by sending out an updated resume to job possibilities and networking at various suburban groups, including the St. Hubert Job and Networking Ministry in Hoffman Estates.

He found his niche as a part-time health care home companion, where he helps elderly people who live at home and need extra assistance. While his income has plummeted to less than half, he feels "blessed to be in this position."

He said he left a high-stress position and now gets gratification in helping others who appreciate his work. And although that often means working for less money and on holidays, he still enjoys it.

"It's very fulfilling work. I'm making a difference in someone's life," said Cruz. "And they say thank you and they smile when you walk in. Working is a pleasure."

As for George Hyland, he was laid off from a $110,000-annual job as a human resources manager for a Lisle company in 2007. At that time, he felt confident he would quickly land another job. But it didn't turn out that way.

After his severance ran out, he was concerned about paying the bills and just yearned to return to work. So he began taking temporary contract assignments. While the recession wiped out a lot of possibilities, he continued contracting despite the fact he earned about half of his original income.

"My wife lost her job a few months ago ... so it's been tough just paying for COBRA. We've been hitting into the 401(k) money. It's been one thing after another," said Hyland.

Labor Day historyThe first Labor Day was observed more than 100 years ago with a parade of 10,000 workers in New York City on Sept. 5, 1882.Labor Day was designed to be a "workingmen's holiday." Oregon was the first state to make Labor Day an official holiday in 1887, and, in 1894, Congress passed legislation making the first Monday in September a federal holiday. For current facts on American workers, see Page X. Here are some current facts about American workers: 154.4 million: Number of people 16 and older in the nation's labor force in May 20107.6 million: Number of workers who hold down more than one job 10.1 million: Number of self-employed workers26.4 million: Number of female workers 16 and older in management, professional and related occupations 27%: Percentage of workers 16 and older who work more than 40 hours a week16.1 million: Number of labor union members nationwide 5.9 million: The number of people who work at home$46,367 and $35,745: The 2008 real median earnings for male and female full-time, year-round workers, respectively What we doAmericans work in a variety of occupations. Here is a sampling:Occupation/Number of employeesTeachers 7.2 millionRegistered nurses 2.8 millionJanitors and building cleaners 2.1 million Customer service representatives 1.9 million Chief executives 1.7 millionComputer software engineers 1 millionElectricians 874,000Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists 773,000 Farmers and ranchers 751,000Social workers 729,000Clergy 441,000Machinists 409,000 Taxi drivers and chauffeurs 373,000Chefs and head cooks 351,000Firefighters 293,000Pharmacists 243,000Roofers 234,000Artists and related workers 213,000 Musicians, singers 186,000Aerospace engineers 137,000Gaming services workers (gambling) 111,000Tax preparers 105,000Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Labor

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